Dade Residents Are Encouraged To Apply For Dislocated Workers Grant
Kayla White
By REBECCA HAZEN
News Editor
The Disaster Dislocated Worker National Emergency Grant, offered by Northwest Georgia Regional Commission (NWGRC) and Work Source Georgia, through its Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, is still ongoing, and unemployed people in Dade County who have lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to apply.
The Disaster Dislocated Worker Covid Grant provides temporary work experience employment opportunities for individuals through 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.
Recipients of the grant get COVID-19 prevention related jobs, which last for 16 weeks.
Kayla White, from Trenton, is a recipient of the grant.
White is currently going through A Hand UP Ministry’s program. A Hand UP is a faith-based ministry program that helps people transition after they have left the prison system.
“I am actually a resident of the Hand UP house,” White said. “I am now doing COVID-19 cleaning for A Hand UP. I sanitize the home that the women live in, all the door knobs, bathrooms, and all high traffic surface areas. I make sure there is disinfectant spray and wipes available to keep us from spreading covid.”
According to White, the job is helping her pay her way through the ministry’s program.
“It is very resourceful, being able to get grants. I think it is a wonderful thing,” White said.
“It has been a win-win for us. It has been very good. It helped her stay in the program,” Rex Mayo, founder of A Hand UP Ministry, said.
Mayo noted that in addition to the women’s house, White also cleaned the ministry’s vehicles, and meeting rooms before and after meetings.
“It’s been very beneficial for us. There has been one occasion, where we had a young lady of ours test positive. She did such a good job of keeping things clean so that no one else has gotten sick,” Mayo said.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Coordinator Paula Stallings works directly with the grant developing worksites and working with individuals that apply for the grant.
For additional information about the National Disaster Dislocated Worker Grant or the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) please contact Paula Stallings at (423) 280-5161 or visit www.careerdepot.org, where an application can be found online.