WSM Plans to Award Another $1 Million to Montgomery County’s
Small Businesses Community Over the Next Year Until Funds Are Exhausted
ROCKVILLE, MD—WorkSource Montgomery, Inc. (WSM) and the Montgomery County Workforce Development Board has recently awarded over $1.3 Million in Covid-19 relief funds under the Workforce Recovery Network (WRN) program to fifteen (15) local community workforce providers. This funding is part of the American Rescue Plan Act, State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program, and its intent is to support organizations who provide employment & training services to Montgomery County residents that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. WSM intends to award at least $1 million dollars a year over the next two (2) years in WRN funds until all funds are exhausted.
“During the height of the pandemic, our Legislators worked extremely hard to pass the Affordable Care Act in order to quickly get financial relief to both people and businesses impacted by the pandemic. It was equally important for us to create a means or a “program” that would allow us to carry out the intent of the law with the same level of concern and urgency. Fortunately, this resulted in WorkSource Montgomery’s ability to expand its reach in terms of providing career counseling, job training, and employment services to populations that were previously underserved. As a result of the funding provided through the Workforce Recovery Network, WSM has been able to positively impact Montgomery County’s Vietnamese, East African, senior citizen, and youth with learning disabilities populations—just to name a few.” – Naté Gordon, Deputy Director, Administrative Services, WorkSource Montgomery
Here’s what a couple of our awardees had to say about WRN 1.0:
“Thanks to WRN, Identity has expanded workforce programs for unemployed and underemployed parents of our youth who were seriously impacted by the pandemic. We are now reaching more Montgomery County residents with industry valued trainings and certifications, paid work experiences, and job coaching and placement services. Our participants are excited to be preparing for careers in healthcare, childcare, food service and the trades.” – Monica Aigner, Workforce Development Manager, Identity Inc.
“The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt by our hardest-hit Montgomery County neighbors. The recovery from lost lives, lost incomes, and lost housing is uneven and slow. With our Workforce Recovery Network grant from WSM, CareerCatchers will be able to help an additional 50 Montgomery County struggling residents rebuild their lives. Through our community partners and business networks, CareerCatchers will serve those most severely impacted and help them find careers, training, and other needed resources to put them on a path out of poverty. The impact of more neighbors finding meaningful careers benefits all of us and creates a more vibrant Montgomery County.” – Mariana A. McNeill, Executive Director, CareerCatchers
Programs should be focused on strategic workforce initiatives that assist Montgomery County residents who have experienced hardship due to the pandemic. In addition to serving individuals negatively impacted by the pandemic the programs may also serve individuals who are: low-income, have criminal backgrounds, have disabilities, homeless, Veterans, English language learners, youth, public assistance recipients, or have barriers to employment. Programs and services targeting individuals in Montgomery County’s high poverty rate census tracks as well as the communities near the pending Purple Metro Line are encouraged.
WSM just completed its second application process but expects to re-open it again in mid-2023 for a limited time. Funding requests could include expansion of traditional services such as recruitment, assessment, case management, training, subsidized employment placements, internships, and supportive services. However, WSM’s funding for this initiative is designed to be flexible and encourage new ways of offering programs and serving individuals in the county. Funds cannot be used for capital improvement or to purchase real estate or large equipment. Programming should fill in gaps brought to light by the pandemic, address issues magnified as a result of the pandemic, and/or expand innovative ideas piloted during the pandemic.
For additional information or questions about WRN 2.0, please contact Naté Gordon at ngordon@worksourcemontgomery.com.
About WorkSource Montgomery (WSM)
WSM is the fiduciary agent for Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding in Montgomery County. The organization operates the American Job Centers in Wheaton and Germantown and provides employment services to Montgomery County residents who are unemployed or underemployed. Programs and initiatives offered by WSM are supported in part by the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an award totaling $4,699,403. WSM engages employers in various industries throughout the county to ensure that their workforce needs are being met. For more information about WorkSource Montgomery and current recruitment opportunities, events, and workshops, visit our website at worksourcemontgomery.com.