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Displaced Worker Grant Still Ongoing

Sharon Abercrombie is working at the Dade County Senior Center, through the Disaster Dislocated Worker grant. Abercrombie helps clean the buses and the Senior Center.

By REBECCA HAZEN
News Editor

The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission (NWGRC) and Work Source Georgia continue to offer 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 negatively impacted by Covid-19 throughout the 15 county Northwest Georgia region.

The Paula Stallings, program case manager works directly with the grant developing worksites and working with individuals that apply for the grant. Since Covid “we have faced difficult times. The years 2020 and 2021 have been challenging and the outbreak of COVID-19 has forced most people to adapt to new realities,” Stallings said.

According to Stallings, people can still apply for the grant. All temporary jobs last for 16 weeks.

Sharon Abercrombie is just one of many Dade County citizens who have been helped by the grant.

“Mrs. Abercrombie worked at the Dade County Public Library where her job consisted of cleaning to keeping the library safe for both workers and guests. Later, Mrs. Abercrombie was transferred to the Dade County Senior Center after it re-opened,” Stallings said.

Abercrombie is now cleaning and sanitizing the Senior Center’s buses, as well as inside the center.

“Right now, what she does is very important, because we have people coming in and out of the building. We have our renters on the weekend, too. We have dialysis patients and cancer patients that we transport. We offer shopping locally in Dade County, and transport to doctor appointments,” Annette Cash, Director of Transportation, said. “We stay very busy.”

“It has helped us a lot financially,” Abercrombie said about the work. “My husband had open heart surgery and it’s been a blessing to have extra income to pay the bills. It gives me a chance too, to stay active and busy, and not worry so much. I really enjoy working there. The seniors are a joy and a delight to be around.”

• 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
• Temporarily or permanently laid off as a result of COVID-19
• Laid off due to a plant or business closure related or lack of work
• Long-term unemployed individuals
• Self-employed individuals unemployed or underemployed

Applications are 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.

 

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