Community Members Encouraged To Apply For Dislocated Workers Emergency Grant
REBECCA HAZEN/Dade County Sentinel
Ansley Cagle works at the Dade County Public Library as part of the Disaster Dislocated Worker National Emergency Grant. Dade County residents are encouraged to apply for the grant, which provides temporary COVID-19 prevention cleaning jobs.
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 the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Coordinator Paula Stallings helps to develop work sites and works with individuals that apply for the grant. Stallings says that if residents were thinking about applying, now is the time to do so.
“There is still time for Dade County residents to apply, but the grant money is ending soon and as of right now it is unclear whether or not the grant will be continued,” Stallings said. “Individuals gain temporary employment for up to 40 hours per week until the allotted time has expired.”
The Disaster Dislocated Worker Covid Grant provides temporary employment opportunities for individuals through Northwest Georgia that have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Recipients of the grant get COVID-19 prevention related jobs, which last for 16 weeks.
Ansley Cagle, a recipient of the grant, is currently working at the Dade County Public Library.
Cagle noted that Stallings helped her get the position at the library.
“I have been helped a lot, and I appreciate it. I love it at the library. I love being around people and I’ve met a lot of new people. It helps me to grow,” Cagle said.
As part of Cagle’s job, she sanitizes all the tables, including all the surfaces in the individual rooms. She also dusts surfaces and wipes down books as well.
Manager of the Dade County Public Library, Mindy Haworth, noted the importance of having Cagle because the library is extra busy during the summer months.
“She’s fabulous. We’re really lucky. When we have summer reading programs, we have over 200 kids come in and out on Thursdays. We have our county cleaning staff come in on Thursday mornings, but after everyone leaves, she wipes everything down and disinfects everything. The cleaning staff comes here twice a week, but while she’s here throughout the day she can make sure things are clean. She’s been a great resource for us,” Haworth said.
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 for the Disaster Dislocated Worker National Emergency Grant 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.