Alabama leaders call to preserve job training program amid Trump administration scrutiny
Moves in Washington D.C. could cost the Montgomery region 90 jobs and a yearly economic benefit of about $144 million, not to mention streams of newly trained workers, Mayor Steven Reed says.
Reed joined U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Montgomery, at the Montgomery Job Corps campus Saturday morning to call for safeguarding the national training program. There is also a Job Corps campus in Gadsden. The Trump administration has called for the pausing of Job Corps programs at all 99 locations in the country by June 30. A Labor Department report cites low graduation rates and safety concerns on the campuses as reason for the pause.
A federal judge has issued a stay in the administration's move.
"We want to see a full reinstatement of the program, with full funding," Reed said, urging the public to contact their representatives in Congress and U.S. Senators to protest the plans to pause the efforts.
Job Corps programs serve young people 18 to 24 with job training. While taking part in the program, participants are offered housing and meals on campus.
More: Prattville approves $15M bond to fund city construction projects
The Montgomery campus employs about 90 people, and has an yearly economic inpact of about $144 million, Reed said.
Figures said continuing the training makes sense.
"These are not a partisan issues, as the mayor has indicated," Figures said. "These are not things that fall along political lines. These are things that matter to real people. Creating jobs and maintaining a strong workforce is a bipartisan, shared, American ideal."
The Job Corps program has real impact on the Montgomery region and the state, Reed said.
'"It offers a second chance for our youth, a pipeline for our local industry and a key driver for our economy," he said.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney atmroney@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama leaders call to preserve federal job training program
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