WILMINGTON (Aug. 5, 2023) United Way of the Cape Fear Area, Inc. announced today that it was awarded a $672,148 Workforce Inclusion grant from the Center for Workforce Inclusion, Inc., of Silver Spring, MD.
Almost 90 percent of this grant – originally from the U.S. Department of Labor – will provide temporary employment to no less than 101 low-income older North Carolinians living in Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Onslow, and Pender counties. These older adults will participate in the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), a cornerstone program of the Older Americans Act and the only federal job training program targeted exclusively to low-income, older jobseekers.
In its 59th year, SCSEP promotes personal dignity and self-sufficiency through work. The training attained through SCSEP provides in-demand skills for older, unemployed, low-income Americans. The Center, a top-tier U.S. Department of Labor National Grantee of SCSEP, works through a network of local partners delivering career training programs for eligible 55-plus-year-old workers across the United States. To date, the Center has served more than 500,000 eligible older workers in permanent employment through the SCSEP program. “Our long-term, local partners are a key to the strength of the Center and provide the systems to train older Americans into strategic advantage for employers across the country.” said Gary A. Officer, Center for Workforce Inclusion President and CEO. “We are very pleased to continue our support of the Cape Fear Area United Way, Inc. for the 45th consecutive year.”
“Over the past 45 years, SCSEP has been a critical part of our mission and an essential support for 55+ jobseekers and public service partners. Job seekers are able to learn new skills and get back into the workforce, providing renewed community engagement and essential income. Nonprofit and government partners benefit from increased human resources and experience that they are able to focus on their critical missions. Our partnership with SCSEP has improved thousands of lives directly, supported hundreds of human service organizations and has created a ripple effect of positive outcomes for the community” said Tommy Taylor, CEO. At their training sites, SCSEP job seekers help local community, faith-based, and public agencies carry out their mission, such as Brunswick Senior Resources, Inc., the Columbus County Partnership for Children, Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity, Onslow Community Outreach, and Pender Adult Services.
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About United Way of the Cape Fear Area
United Way of the Cape Fear Area mobilizes resources to empower local people working toward leading self-sufficient, healthy lives. For more information, please visit www.uwcfa.org.
About the Center for Workforce Inclusion
For 60 years, the Center for Workforce Inclusion has worked with older, low-income job seekers overlooked by traditional workforce programs. We trace our roots to the National Council of Senior Citizens, launched in 1962 to advocate for older Americans. We are now the only national entity dedicated exclusively to the workforce development needs of underserved workers over the age of 50. Since our founding, we have empowered nearly 500,000 clients to attain in-demand skills, overcome barriers to employment, and secure employment with more than 5,000 employers in industries that range from financial services, hospitality, and office administration to social services, health care, transportation, and manufacturing. For more information, please visit www.centerforworkforceinclusion.org.
