On August 4, the Middle Georgia Regional Commission’s Workforce Development Department held the final workshops a graduation for the current E3 Career Jumpstart Program cohort.

The final workshops closed out the four-week program, the first three of which involved the Workplace Fundamentals classroom training at Central Georgia Technical College. Throughout the program, participants learned things like soft skills development, job readiness training, interview skills, health and wellness assessment, financial literacy, and consumer credit counseling. These final sessions helped put the skills learned in the classroom into practice in everyday situations, and presenters included HOPE Inside Macon-Bibb, First Choice Primary Care, and Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia Goodwill.

The graduation that afternoon featured Middle Georgia Regional Commission Executive Director Laura Mathis, Workforce Development Board Chair Theresa Robinson, E3 Program Coordinator Howard Scott and staff, Macon-Bibb County District 9 Commissioner Al Tillman, and Macon-Bibb County Mayor Robert A.B. Reichert.

Upon completing the workshops and graduation, participants received a Certification of Participation from Workforce Development and certifications from CGTC in Forklift Operations, CPR/First Aid, 10 hours of work readiness training, national career readiness, and completion of a certified resume. Graduating from E3 makes a person eligible for Workforce Development’s On the Job Training (OJT) program.

“Graduation is very important to these students because it represents a major accomplishment for them and a significant step in their growth,” says Mr. Scott. “This program and these certifications make them more competitive in the application process for better positions and higher wages.”

There is a new cohort of program participants currently being enrolled, and they will begin their four-week journey in September.

About the E3 Career Jumpstart Program
The E3 Career Jumpstart Program is a four-week training program where people can help people earn an entry-level career in advanced manufacturing and warehousing. Eligible participants can attend the program at no charge thanks to the Middle Georgia Regional Commission.

The Program works with Workplace Fundamentals – a special initiative of CGTC – to help people earn certifications in CPR/First Aid, OSHA 10-hour, Forklift Certification in safety and operation, Intro to Computers, Microsoft Word 2010 Basic and Microsoft Excel 2010 Basic. These certifications are required to be successful in a warehousing or advanced manufacturing career.

“We want to help people transform their lives and overcome barriers to employment and success,” says Macon-Bibb County Commissioner Al Tillman, who has been helping make sure people know about the program and what it can mean them and their families. “The programs and support are available for people to create better lives, and it’s up to us to make sure they know about them.”

Free information sessions are hosted by Workforce Development to explain the program and get people signed up to participate. During the sessions, people will learn about Workforce Fundamentals and the various services Workforce Development offers to help customers be successful in the workforce and to earn high wages in in-demand careers.

Information sessions are held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the following locations around Macon-Bibb County:

• 1st Tuesday – Washington Library, 1180 Washington Avenue
• 2nd Tuesday – Macon Career Center (Department of Labor), 3090 Mercer University Drive
• 3rd Tuesday – Buck Melton Center, 150 Sessions Drive
• 4th Tuesday – Helms Career Center, 240 Broadway

Tuition for the four-week program is $1,500, but tuition will be covered by the Middle Georgia Regional Commission Workforce Development Department if the person meets certain eligibility and income (depending on family size) requirements, including:

• Unemployment (meaning no income earnings from a job), including Veterans.
• Receiving Unemployment Insurance (UI) or has exhausted UI within the past six months.
• Recently separated from their job because of company closure, downsizing, lack of work, seasonal job, etc.
• Receiving public assistance or has received public assistance within the past six months.

To learn more about the E3 Career Jumpstart Program – including the information sessions, eligibility requirements, and cost – contact the Office of Workforce Development at 478-751-6160.