SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Hundreds of thousands of dollars has been infused into a local nonprofit, designed to help lower-income seniors receive on-the-job training.
The United Way of the Cape Fear Area was awarded $603,568 from the Center for Workforce Inclusion, Inc., of Silver Spring, MD. Ninety percent of the grant — originally from the U.S. Department of Labor — will help at least 101 older North Carolinians living in Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Onslow, and Pender counties.
This workforce inclusion grant will support the United Way’s operations of its Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), a cornerstone of the Older Americans Act. It has helped low-income job seekers for over five decades train and overcome barriers to find work.
“Older adults will soon be the largest single segment of the American workforce,” said Gary A. Officer, Center for Workforce Inclusion president and CEO. “It is an economic necessity that we ensure our older jobseekers are equipped with the tools required to be successful in the workforce.”
Last year, the nonprofit was able to help 100 jobseekers across five counties, accumulating 62,710 hours of paid community service work, skills and training, and job placement assistance. They were placed in approximately 50 agencies, nonprofits and government organizations.
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) helps New Hanover County Senior Resource Center, Columbus County DREAM Center, Kids Making It, Brunswick Senior Resources, Inc., Smart Start of Pender County, Onslow Community Outreach, and the Wilmington Parks & Recreation Department, according to United Way CEO Tommy Taylor.
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