ALBANY, GA – Three years after the devastation of Hurricane Michael, Albany Technical College and Southern Regional Technical College continues to support Southwest Georgia’s continued recovery effort through workforce development, career training, and education. Thanks to the Georgia Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program, they will soon be able to do even more for students. This project will be called the Rebuild Southwest Georgia Workforce Recovery Training Program - Hurricane Michael.
After the destruction of Hurricane Michael in late 2018, a Presidential disaster declaration made twenty Georgia counties eligible for FEMA’s Individual and Public Assistance federal grant. Together, Albany Technical College and Southern Regional Technical College serve eighteen of the eligible counties, which include Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Crisp, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Laurens, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Randolph, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth counties. Eighty percent of the grant funds will be allocated to hardest hit Decatur, Dougherty, and Seminole counties. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the block grant disaster recovery funds to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to address unmet needs in the wake of the hurricane. DCA partnered with the Technical College System of Georgia to administer and distribute funding. Funds were prioritized for use in the most impacted and distressed areas to facilitate long-term recovery with a goal of restoring infrastructure, housing, and by providing economic revitalization programs.
“We all remember October 14, 2018, and the impact of Hurricane Michael on our region of Georgia. Our employees, their families, and our business community were all affected,” Says Dr. Anthony Parker, President of Albany Technical College. “The Georgia Department of Community Affairs has provided the opportunity for the creation of an action plan for disaster relief recovery. The plan focuses on counties served by Albany Technical College and Southern Regional Technical College. Southwest Georgia also has essential industries that must be supported so that the region can grow and prosper.”
The total amount awarded to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for the program totals $8,367,400 and has been designated to serve low to moderate-income individuals. The Colleges plan to implement workforce and economic development initiatives such as on-the-job training, customized training, and job readiness courses, as well as additional funding for dual enrollment and adult education students. The grant may provide direct aid to individuals who qualify for assistance. By providing more residents of impacted communities with essential skills training and education, the Colleges will be able to utilize the grant monies to support students and sustain the long-term economic recovery of the area.
“Workforce Development is our number one mission,” said Jim Glass, President of Southern Regional Technical College. “The destruction of Hurricane Michael affected our entire region, and for many of our students, it was a life-altering moment. This grant will support our ongoing work of providing our students with life-changing training and education, and our graduates with meaningful career opportunities.”
In 2020, DCA finished drafting an action plan to allocate funds in South Georgia. DCA is working to ensure that all citizens are aware of the 2018 CDBG-DR funding and planning process, have an opportunity to comment on or suggest proposed uses for the funds, and maximize public awareness and access to 2018 CDBG-DR program funds when available. Further information related to Georgia’s CDBG-DR programs and distribution method can be found in the state’s HUD-Approved Action Plan located on the DCA website.
Additional communication will follow as the program moves forward.
*Source: https://www.dca.ga.gov/sites/default/files/2018_cdbg-dr_citizen_participation_plan.pdf
About Albany Technical College
A public postsecondary institution of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), Albany Technical College provides technical education and training support for the evolving workforce needs of Southwest Georgia through traditional and online classroom settings. Albany Tech is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS/COC). For more information about Albany Tech, go to www.albanytech.edu or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AlbanyTech or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AlbanyTech. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel by visiting www.youtube.com/albanytech1.
About Southern Regional Technical College
Southern Regional Technical College offers over 130 degree, diploma, and certificate programs that are designed to get you quickly into your desired career, and 28 general education courses that transfer to the University System of Georgia institutions and 19 private colleges and universities in Georgia. SRTC has instructional sites located in Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth counties for the convenience of our students. The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. For the most up-to-date information on registration, class dates, and program offerings, log on to
www.southernregional.edu.