GaMEP at Georgia Tech Earns $50K Workforce Grant
The Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) at Georgia Tech has been awarded a $50,000 grant from BlueForge Alliance to fund the support of Project Purpose – Justice-Impacted to Manufacturing Pathway, a new program that prepares non-violent offenders for positions in manufacturing, transportation, and warehousing.
According to Lightcast, a labor market analytics firm, and the Georgia Department of Corrections, nearly 2,000 unique manufacturing jobs were posted in early 2024, while almost 17,000 non-violent offenders remained incarcerated in local and state prisons across Northwest Georgia. Leveraging his connections, John Zegers, GaMEP Northwest Georgia Region Manager and iWORKS Northwest Georgia Co-Chairman, saw an opportunity to benefit employers and incarcerated individuals and initiated the first training in Polk County through partnership with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Development Authority of Polk County, Hope Home, and iWORKS Northwest Georgia.
Under the leadership of Sheriff Johnny Moats, Polk County Sheriff’s Office launched the successful Polk Re-Entry Program (PREP) in 2023. PREP uses a strength-based approach to addictive and criminal behaviors that recognizes and addresses barriers when returning to the community. The program has successfully provided more than 12,000 services, enhancing community and officer safety, lowering tax burden on citizens, and reducing recidivism.
After the pilot training in Polk County, GaMEP and iWORKS Northwest Georgia plan to expand the program to several additional counties, continuing to engage local manufacturers and train incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals for essential manufacturing, transportation and warehousing positions. To read the entire article, please click here: https://gamep.org/georgia-manufacturing-extension-partnership-at-georgia-tech-earns-50000-workforce-grant/
