Help for the Newly Unemployed

by Heidi Butler
October 07, 2009

As unemployment in the Lehigh Valley continues to climb Northampton Community College (NCC) has received a $79,149 grant to provide classes, career assessments, academic advising, counseling and financial assistance to people who have lost their jobs during "the Great Recession."

The grant represents a portion of a one-time $ 1.397 million increase in community services block funding  that the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV) received through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

CACLV opted to make part of the funding available to other non-profits and asked the 30+ business, non-profit and government leaders  serving on  the Recession Response and Recovery Task Force which NCC helped to found to make the selections.

At the news conference George Mowrer, the president of CACLV's board of directors, described the review process as a thorough one that involved interviews with "dozens of 'first responders,' the organizations who are the first to respond to the people who are experiencing the pain of the worst recession in 30 years."

In addition to NCC, other organizations chosen to receive grants to aid the newly unemployed include the Employment Services Collaborative Project, Family Answers, Lehigh Valley Children's Centers, North Penn Legal services, ProJect of Easton,  Recovery Revolution, Trinity Episcopal Church Emergency Shelter System and Valley Wide Help.

NCC's president, Dr. Arthur Scott, commended Alan Jennings, executive director of CACLV and the organization's board for the work CACLV does and their willingness to share the grant with others working  "for the betterment of the Lehigh Valley."