Rep. Johnson: $1 million in 'Pathways Out of Poverty' grants headed to District

Recovery Act funding to help residents land green jobs:

WASHINGTON – Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) is pleased to announce that Goodwill Industries will partner with local DeKalb County entities to train south DeKalb residents for green jobs.

Funded through a “Pathways Out of Poverty” grant authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Goodwill Industries of North Georgia will use $1 million to provide job training and placement for residents who are chronically unemployed, including people with disabilities, older workers, the homeless and high school dropouts.

“These grants will help workers in our communities gain access to jobs of the future,” said Johnson. “And the valuable training they receive can help them out of poverty and promote self-sufficiency through employment in renewable energy industries.”

The program will assist 200 low-income workers from start to finish by providing assessment, skills training and job placement for weatherization, construction and solar energy jobs. Once placed, the workers will be supported by Goodwill and their local partners to help them retain their jobs and advance within their chosen industry along clear career pathways.

Local institutions partnering in the effort include DeKalb Technical College, DeKalb Workforce Development, St. Philip AME Church, the Housing Authority of DeKalb County and Southface Energy Institute.

For more information, visit the Department of Labor Web site.

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