Copiah-Lincoln Community College announced that it was awarded a $482,025 Workforce Inclusion grant from the Center for Workforce Inclusion, Inc. (Center). Almost 90 percent of this grant – originally from the U.S. Department of Labor – will provide temporary employment to no less than 80 low-income older Mississippians living in Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pike, Simpson, Smith, Walthall, and Wilkinson 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 job seekers.
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 50-plus-year-old workers across the United States. To date, the Center has helped more than 500,000 gain unsubsidized employment from 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 Copiah-Lincoln Community College for the 52nd consecutive year.”
“SCSEP helps our community’s eligible 55+ job seekers learn new skills and refresh old ones when they are coming back into the workforce,” said Dr. Dewayne Middleton, President of Copiah-Lincoln Community College. “At their training sites, SCSEP job seekers help local community, faith-based, and public agencies carry out their mission, such as St. Andrews Mission, Copiah-Jefferson Regional Library Systems, Boys and Girls Club, Copiah County Human Resource Agency, Jefferson County Board of Supervisors, WIN Job Centers, Aging Gracefully Community Center and a variety of other non-profit and government agencies. By working in SCSEP positions, SCSEP is providing hope and dignity to low-income, older job seekers who have the toughest employment challenges. This grant from the Center is essential to our being able to deliver these vital workforce training services to our community.”
About Copiah-Lincoln Community College
At Copiah-Lincoln Community College, we expect the highest level of personal conduct from all faculty/staff, contract workers, and volunteers, regardless of position. Copiah-Lincoln Community College is a friendly and open place to work, and we achieve this through a balance of office culture and a family atmosphere. This culture must not interfere with upholding high levels of professionalism in all areas. Copiah-Lincoln Community College is an equal-opportunity institution in education and employment.
About the Center for Workforce Inclusion
The Center for Workforce Inclusion has led the way in age-inclusive workforce development for over 60 years. We collaborate with training experts nationwide to equip experienced older workers with the skills required to succeed in the evolving modern workplace, and we connect employers with experienced workers who fit their specific company needs. As a 501(c)(3) organization, our goal is to help employers benefit from the unique strengths of older workers while ensuring that older workers stay competitive in a changing job market. For more information, please visit www.centerforworkforceinclusion.org.
