(WNY News Now) – Jamestown, NY – Goodwill of Western New York has been awarded a $219,205 Workforce Inclusion grant by the Center for Workforce Inclusion, Inc. The grant, sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor, aims to provide temporary employment and vital job training to at least 20 low-income seniors in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).
Celebrating its 60th year, SCSEP is the only federal job training program exclusively for low-income, older jobseekers. It equips participants with in-demand skills, enhancing their employability and fostering self-sufficiency. The Center for Workforce Inclusion, a key U.S. Department of Labor National Grantee, has helped over 500,000 individuals secure unsubsidized employment through SCSEP.
Gary A. Officer, President and CEO of the Center for Workforce Inclusion, emphasized the significance of local partnerships. “Our long-term, local partners are a key to the strength of the Center and provide the systems to train older Americans into strategic advantage for employers across the country. We are very pleased to continue our support of Goodwill of Western NY for the fourth consecutive year.”
Thomas Ulbrich, President and CEO of Goodwill of Western New York, highlighted the program’s impact. “SCSEP helps our community’s eligible 55+ jobseekers learn new skills and refresh old ones when they are coming back into the workforce. This grant is essential to our mission of providing vital workforce training services to our community.”
SCSEP participants assist various local community, faith-based, and public agencies, including Jamestown Meals on Wheels, Chautauqua Adult Day Care Center, and the SPCA in Olean. To qualify, participants must be 55 years or older, reside in Chautauqua or Cattaraugus County, be currently unemployed, and meet specific income requirements. Interested individuals or non-profits can contact Debora Swanson, SCSEP Project Director, at 716.499.4396 or visit Goodwill of WNY.
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