The federal government has awarded Georgia $12 million that will be used for state programs to train workers who’ve lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday.
The money will go to the Technical College System of Georgia's Office of Workforce Development. Eligible workers can complete an application to receive job training and improve their skills provided by WorkSource Ga. The TCSG has 22 colleges statewide, including sites in Atlanta, Cobb, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.
State data shows more than 1.8 million Georgians have filed unemployment claims since mid-March, federal officials declared a national emergency concerning the pandemic. That's about 37% of Georgia's pre-virus workforce – a much higher share than the national average of about 22%.
"This federal funding will expand our capacity to serve Georgia workers who have experienced hardship due to COVID-19 closures," Kemp said in a statement. "Through employment assistance and training services, TCSG's Office of Workforce Development will help eligible individuals get back into the workforce as quickly as possible."
The money is coming from a U.S. Department of Labor grant program to states in response to large, unexpected layoffs.
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