Dislocated Worker Grant Still Ongoing
Wendy Ridge
By REBECCA HAZEN
News Editor
The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission (NWGRC) and Work Source Georgia is offering a Disaster Dislocated Worker National Emergency Grant through its Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
The Disaster Dislocated Worker National Emergency Grant provides temporary employment opportunities for individuals throughout Northwest Georgia that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant is designed to serve dislocated workers in need of training and assist in securing full-time employment.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Coordinator Paula Stallings works directly with the grant developing worksites and working with individuals that apply for the grant.
“We have faced difficult years because of COVID-19. The years 2020 and 2021 have been challenging. The outbreak of COVID-19 forced most people to adapt to new realities,” Stallings said.
According to Stallings, people can still apply for the grant. Jobs last for 16 weeks.
“On Oct. 20, 2020, we had the privilege of hiring Wendy Ridge as a COVID-19 prevention technical at the Dade County Board of Elections office, to comply with the CDC COVID-19 guidance,” Stallings said.
Ridge’s job consisted of cleaning to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and protecting voters and election workers.
Because of the ongoing challenges, Ridge was then transferred to the Dade County Health Department as a COVID-19 community outreach worker. There, she answered phone calls related to COVID-19, cleaned and sanitized high traffic areas in the facility, to help reduce and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Ridge is just one of many Dade County citizens who have been helped by the grant.
The eligibility requirements for the NEG Grant include:
Be at least 18 years old
A legal citizen of the United States
In compliance with the Selective Service Act
Workers temporarily or permanently laid off as a result of COVID-19
Workers laid off due to a plant or business closure related to COVID-19 or lack of work
Long-term unemployed individuals
Self-employed individuals unemployed or underemployed
An application is available online at www.careerdepot.org. Click on the Disaster/COVID-19 Application link. For more information, contact Paula Stallings at (423) 280-5161 or pstallings@dadecounty-ga.gov.