The U.S. Department of Labor awarded the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) a $15 million Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy, Training (QUEST) Disaster Recovery Grant to support Georgia workers and employers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since the pandemic, Georgia has experienced both unprecedented economic growth, and record openings of high-quality skilled jobs,” said TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier. “This presents a tremendous opportunity for Georgians to not only reenter the workforce, but also begin a new career path that they may not have been able to access before.”

Through this grant, TCSG will establish The Untapped Workforce Initiative, which is focused on strengthening partnerships between Georgia’s workforce development system, employers, and local communities to address the workforce impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and lower barriers for affected workers of the pandemic to obtain quality, sustainable careers. The grant will also provide significant funding to affected workers through WorkSource Georgia, the state’s employment and training system, for skills training in jobs critical to Georgia’s economy, including advanced manufacturing, transportation, distribution, logistics, information technology, and healthcare.

“For many in Georgia, the pandemic has offered the opportunity to begin a new chapter in their lives, and that often means a better job. With this grant, we can ensure that Georgians who were hit hardest by the pandemic, specifically individuals from special populations and marginalized communities, have access to better jobs as well,” said Deputy Commissioner Karen Kirchler.

To learn more about WorkSource Georgia, including the services for individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, visit www.WorkSourceGeorgia.com.