The post-COVID employment landscape is one in which Dislocated Workers and the long-term unemployed need assistance in obtaining family-sustaining jobs, while workers with experience and credentials are fully employed. Although Guilford County’s unemployment rate has mirrored that of the United States, it has defined high poverty and unemployment pockets, reflecting historically marginalized residents. These residents lack access to good jobs and suffer from a digital divide that leaves them on an uneven playing field when it comes to job training.

To aid communities in addressing and recovering from the unprecedented unemployment and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the Comprehensive and Accessible Reemployment Through Equitable Employment Recovery (CAREER) Dislocated Worker Grants initiative. The competitive funding aids local areas in enhancing inclusive employment services, training, work-based learning opportunities, and entrepreneurial training for dislocated workers in historically marginalized communities, connecting them to career pathways in high-demand/high-wage positions.

On September 28, 2021, GuilfordWorks was awarded a $3,000,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to provide employment and training services throughout Guilford County. Through the grant, GuilfordWorks will prioritize service delivery to individuals of color, women, single parents, and disconnected youth/ young adults in the communities of High Point and Greensboro.

 Although we were awarded the grant in September, and the submission process required lots of planning and strategizing, plenty of behind-the-scenes activity remained. This grant allowed us to bring on new staff members to engage the public. So, on January 5–7, 2022, we posted positions for the various team members, and we commenced interviewing for those roles on January 26. The first team members came on board on March 16 and hit the ground running.

The project will provide participants with supportive services and training, including internships and apprenticeship programs, to:

• move individuals into higher-paying career paths
• expand virtual technology applications
• create and execute outreach campaigns to priority populations, including veterans
• organize and maintain strategic partnerships to optimize the use of resources.

Partnering organizations within designated census tracts will provide physical space for participants to access training and resources right in their neighborhoods. This strategy minimizes transportation and childcare barriers by eliminating the need to commute to the NCWorks Career Center. We are committed to meeting people where they are, and these neighborhoods contain a high density of individuals who are eligible for and who can benefit from our services.

Embedding dedicated staff in these communities will allow us to engage an estimated 4,000 individuals in essential services over the next two years.

GuilfordWorks can expand our mission to create equitable opportunities for our community and region through this funding, addressing systemic challenges magnified by the pandemic.