The Center for Workforce Inclusion, Inc. (Center) awarded the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission a $310,877 workforce inclusion grant. Nearly 90 percent of the grant, originally from U.S. Department of Labor, will be used to provide training on the job for 52 low-income older Alabamians who live in Barbour, Coffee and Covington as well as those living in Henry, Henry, Geneva, Henry, Henry, Houston, and Dale counties. The workforce inclusion grant will be used to support the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).
The center has been working with low-income older job seekers for 60 years. The Center helps older job seekers, both directly and through a national network of partners, to acquire in-demand skills, overcome obstacles to employment, secure employment. The Center’s core mission is to support workforce inclusion grants, which include those that support the operation of SCSEP.
SCSEP, now in its 56th year, is a key program of the Older Americans Act. It is the only federal job training program that targets low-income older workers. SCSEP helps job seekers become skilled and reskilled in order to meet local employment needs.
Gary A. stated that “Older adults” will soon be the largest segment of the American workforce. Center for Workforce Inclusion President & CEO. “It is a matter of economic necessity to ensure that older workers are equipped with the necessary tools to succeed in the workforce. For the 48th consecutive year, I am pleased to support the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission.
Scott Farmer, Executive Director at SEARP&DC, stated that “SCSEP was a blessing during the COVID-19 pandemic.” SCSEP participants were able to continue their training at home. Now, most SCSEP job seekers are back at their training locations, helping local faith-based and community agencies, such as Wiregrass Area Food Bank and Wiregrass Area 2-1-1. David Duke, Wiregrass Area Food Bank Executive Director, said that it was a privilege to partner with the Senior Employment Program for more than 15 years. SCSEP provides dignity and hope to 55-year-olds with the most difficult employment situations. This program cannot be implemented in our community without the grant from The Center.
The article Regional Planning Commission gets funds to train older, low-income workers was first published on The AndalusiaStar-News.
