Durham County, Durham Tech use non-profit partnerships to get residents back to work

Durham County has announced a new COVID-focused nonprofit funding program, which includes a Workforce Development component that incorporates the Durham Tech Back-to-Work Initiative.

The 18-month program, which runs January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, seeks proposals from nonprofits that address both COVID response and recovery issues in four target areas: Food Security; Child, Youth, and Family Wellness and Learning; and Workforce Development.

The goal of the Workforce Development target area is to help residents in low-wage jobs transition into high-demand industries with opportunities for salary growth and upward mobility. By improving awareness and access to career training and employment, this target area seeks to promote the economic well-being of all Durham County residents.

“We are proud to partner with Durham County and to play a significant role in helping Durham residents get back to work,” said Durham Tech President J.B. Buxton. “We are committed to offering courses that will provide individuals with skillsets that lead to immediate employment and increase our community’s economic mobility.”

Nonprofits are encouraged to utilize resources available through Durham Tech – enrolling and supporting residents in Durham Tech’s Back-to-Work Initiative until they’re employed in an industry with growth potential.

“Durham Tech’s Back to Work Initiative will be an essential part of Durham’s economic recovery strategy by training residents to enter high-growth industries in a matter of months,” said Andrew Miracle, Development Officer at Durham County. “The County’s new round of nonprofit funding provides an excellent opportunity to align workforce development organizations around this effort. By leveraging existing resources around the shared goal of getting residents Back to Work, we hope to create more awareness and access to quality jobs for Durham residents.”

Funded workforce development programs will work with identified partners to leverage their resources to recruit, enroll and support residents until they complete coursework at Durham Tech and are employed in an industry with salary and promotion growth potential.

The Back-to-Work Initiative was launched in July, providing short-term courses to help residents in the community gain immediate employment in growing industries. Courses range from Community Health Worker and BioWorks to Core Construction and Human Resources Development.

“The evolving workforce in our new normal makes it even more essential for the College to respond to our communities’ needs by providing short-term training leading to life-long skills,” said Dr. Micara Lewis-Sessoms, a leader of the initiative.

Submissions are due November 12 and awards will be announced in early January.