ETCS wins federal grant to help create jobs through faith-based initiatives

Most people aren’t comfortable going into an agency like Michigan Works! and asking for help. The reasons range from pride to trust to access. But Washtenaw County Employment Training and Community Services has just received a grant that could help people with difficulties making use of the job services the county can provide.

The organization just received a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Center for Faith-Based Initiatives just under $5,000 to help strengthen its Access Points Program. Long story short, it allows people at local churches help their members find work or take advantage of other services.

“It’s creating a comfort zone for people to take advantage of services that they might have been comfortable accessing before,” says Maura Campbell, a spokeswoman for Washtenaw County Employment Training and Community Services.

The idea is to help bolster workforce development services and make them more accessible to the people in Washtenaw County who need them. Access Points are satellite offices located in churches and other community locations. They are outfitted with computers linked to a streamlined menu of services/information and staffed by trained volunteers.

For information on the Access Points program, contact Justin Al-Igoe at al-igoej@ewashtenaw.org or (734) 544-2954 or click here.

Source: Washtenaw County Employment Training and Community Services
Writer: Jon Zemke