State Receives Federal Funds to Enhance Middle Georgia Workforce

ATLANTA, September 3, 2015—The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced today an award of nearly $2 million by the U.S. Department of Labor to enhance career services for dislocated workers in Middle Georgia. The Sector Partnership National Emergency Grant (NEG) supports workforce training for manufacturing and logistics companies in two of Georgia's 19 Local Workforce Development Areas.

The Sector Partnership NEG collaboration includes GDEcD's Workforce division and Existing Industries team, Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL), Middle Georgia Regional Commission and Middle Georgia Consortium.  The goal of this project is to provide enhanced career services to 400 dislocated workers in the middle Georgia region as well as create 138 work-based learning opportunities with 110 of those resulting in full-time employment.

'This grant opportunity creates a dynamic partnership between local and state entities in the training and development of our Middle Georgia workforce,' said Ben Hames, Deputy Commissioner of the Workforce division at the Georgia Department of Economic Development. 'We recognize that the manufacturing and logistics sectors are expanding throughout the state, and this opportunity will provide Georgia businesses with a trained workforce to support that growth.'

All of the entities involved will have a role in supporting the grant. GDEcD's Workforce division will coordinate the delivery of business services to partner companies in need of a trained workforce. The Middle Georgia Regional Commission and Middle Georgia Consortium will implement the work-based learning activities and training services funded through the Sector Partnership NEG. In addition, the Georgia Department of Labor will oversee the recruitment of jobseekers in the form of Special Workforce Assistance Team (SWAT) events.

'The Sector Partnership National Emergency Grant gives us the opportunity to take a unique approach in addressing the needs of dislocated workers and the long-term unemployed across the Middle Georgia Region," said Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. "We look forward to partnering with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Middle Georgia Regional Commission Workforce Division, and the Middle Georgia Consortium to enhance career services for these populations and provide Middle Georgia employer's the workforce they need to succeed."

For more information on the Sector Partnership NEG, contact the Georgia Department of Economic Development's Workforce Division at 404-962-4005.