Last week, State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond announced a $250,000 workforce development grant that will help retain hundreds of laid off workers in northwest Georgia.

Representative Barbara Massey Reece stated, “First, I want to express my appreciation to the labor department for its earlier response to the layoff at Mount Vernon Mills.  I especially want to thank Commissioner Thurmond for recognizing early-on the widespread employment problems in Northwest Georgia and moving quickly to secure funding to help our people who are at an employment crossroad to get the additional training they need.”

 The Grant will be administered through the Coosa Valley RDC and Coosa Valley Tech.  It will provide training in a variety of areas ranging from operators of heavy equipment to classes in English as a second language.