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WIB, CCEO, Partners, Staff
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June 2004 Newsletter
Sharon Norman, AHEC
Health Education Center (AHEC) representative Sharon Norman addressed the
Workforce Investment Board at the May meeting. She shared with the group information about the high demand for
health care workers in Northwest Georgia and the services provided by AHEC. Despite the fact
that Georgia is currently experiencing the worst job market for teenagers
since World War II, there is some relief for who
are seeking employment. The Northwest Georgia
Workforce Investment Board has received a $30,000 portion of a million dollars granted
statewide by the Georgia Department of Labor for the creation of youth
summer jobs. This grant will
fund jobs for qualifying youth, most of who are already on waiting lists across the state.
Typically, each
youth will work 32 hours per week for six weeks and earn $5.15 per hour. A
variety of jobs will be available in both the public and private sectors. "These summer jobs will provide valuable work experiences, plus
wages for Georgia’s youth,” said State Labor Commissioner Michael
Thurmond. “Most young job seekers are having a difficult
time finding work this summer because of the current tight job market.
Without special efforts like this, many young Georgians face another long,
restless, jobless summer.” Additionally, Anheuser-Busch has provided
the WIB with nearly $29,000 to fund jobs for youth. These funds will be used to provide opportunities for summer
employment to the youth of Bartow County. The company will pay the wages
and associated costs to hire twelve students and two counselors to
participate in the Anheuser-Busch Green Team. The Green Team will perform community services including the completion of minor
repairs and painting the homes of Bartow County residents in need. Summer jobs provide young people with an opportunity to use their
free time in a constructive manner to gain work experience and needed wages
and to enhance their chances for long-term success in the workplace.
Funding Provides
Summer Jobs for Northwest Georgia Youth
By
Catherine Lawler, CVRDC
Dates to Remember
WIA And Northwestern Technical College Team
Up To Get
Laid Off Workers Back To Work Quickly!!!
By Dianne Mayes,
Northwestern Technical College
When
Blue Bird announced it was laying off about 150 workers, Northwestern
Technical College (NTC) wanted to help these workers get back to work as
soon as possible. Johnnie Lewis, the Manager of the LaFayette Department
of Labor (DOL) and Gail Summers, the Manager of Ft. Oglethorpe DOL,
immediately started referring the laid off workers who were interested in
the WIA Commercial Truck Driving Class to NTC. Susan Doesburg, WIA
Assistant Coordinator, and Donna Henderson NTC Administrative Secretary
for the CDL class, started taking applications, setting up test schedules
and doing all the WIA required paperwork.
By March 1, 2004, a class of 10 men ready to start a new career had been assembled. (See picture). All 10 men successfully obtained their CDL licenses and have gone to work. Avery Shoemake and David Sipsy, the wonderful instructors who trained this motivated group of men, deserve recognition for the great success of the program.
This was an outstanding example of collaboration between the local Northwest Georgia agencies that serve citizens in need of retraining so they can return to the workforce as soon as possible.
Nursing Students Share Their Stories with WIB
The Workforce Investment Board (WIB) was privileged to have as speakers at the May meeting three participants in the nursing field that received assistance through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program.
Robin Quimby, a WIA participant through the Adult program, previously worked in Massachusetts as a certified home health aide and a certified hospice aide. Upon moving to Georgia and completing her pre-requisites at Chattahoochee Technical College, she was accepted into the WIA program as an LPN student. She is now in her last quarter of the program and is doing well. She credits WIA with allowing her to attend school full time without the stress of working to pay tuition. Robin says it required a lot of dedication and hard work and is very grateful for the assistance provided by WIA.
Annette
Wilson, a single mother of two grown children, worked as a mechanic for 21
years at Levi-Strauss in Blue Ridge and raised her family with very little
support. In June of 2003, she lost her job as the result of a plant
closure. At first angry and scared, Annette listened to the information
sessions held for employees affected by the closing and saw the
opportunity to do something she had wanted to do all her life. She
enrolled in the LPN program at Appalachian Technical College (through
assistance from the HOPE grant, the WIA program, and the Georgia
Department of Labor’s Rapid Response program). She completed her
training December 2003. She was a leader in her class of nineteen and gave
the commencement address at the graduation. She now works at Union General
Hospital as a nurse. Annette is an example of how retraining can benefit
not only the participant but also the entire community.
Donna Clegg received her LPN license after completing the LPN program at Coosa Valley Technical College. She received funding through the WIA Adult Program that assisted her with training expenses as well as child care supplemental support. This assistance enabled Donna to continue working part time at Winthrop Manor Nursing Center while in school. Donna completed her training, maintaining an excellent grade average and has now passed her state board exams. She is employed as an LPN by Winthrop Manor Nursing Center and is in charge of administering all medications to patients while on her shift. Donna says she is grateful to now have a job where she can assist patients who are always pleased to have her help.
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