Special to the Enquirer  

North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments has received a $269,500 grant from the Center for Workforce Inclusion.  

Almost 90 percent of this grant – originally from the U.S. Department of Labor – will provide temporary employment for approximately 50 low-income older adults in Cullman, Lawrence and Morgan counties.  

These individuals will participate in the Senior Community Service Employment Program, which is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year.  

“We are pleased to continue our support of the North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments for the 43rd consecutive year,” said Gary A. Officer, president and CEO of the Center.  

Robby Cantrell, NARCOG executive director, said SCSEP has been “such a blessing for our participants during the COVID-19 pandemic.”  

“The grant from the Center is vital to our being able to deliver this program in our region,” he added.  

Cantrell said participants have been able to continue receiving emergency pandemic sick leave while they remained at home, and receiving these funds provides participants with income security and peace of mind during these unprecedented times.  

Participants are slowly beginning to safely return to some training sites, where they provide much–needed support to community and public agencies such as area libraries, United Way agencies and Habitat for Humanity of Morgan County.  

SCSEP is the only federal job training program targeted exclusively to low-income seniors, promoting personal dignity and self-sufficiency through work. The temporary, part-time community service jobs provide a hand-up for eligible older, unemployed individuals.  

Learn more about NARCOG at www.narcog.org. Learn more about the Center for Workforce Inclusion at www.centerforworkforceinclusion.org.