Covering Women's Issues – Changing Women's Lives

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 SIGN IN SIGN UP RSS

• HOME
• Culture & Tradition
  • Arts
  • Our History
  • Religion
  • Cultural Trends/Popular Culture
  • Traditions
  • Aging
  • Marriage/Divorce
  • Parenting
  • Lesbian and Transgender
• Media
  • 21 Leaders for the 21st Century
  • Cheers and Jeers
  • Journalist of the Month
  • Books
  • Media Stories
• Perspectives & Views
  • MomAgenda
  • SisterSpace
  • Commentary
  • Our Daily Lives
  • Uncovering Gender
• Politics & Influence
  • Campaign Trail
  • Education
  • Equality/Women’s Rights
  • International Policy/United Nations
  • Leadership
  • Military
  • Peace
  • The Nation
  • The World
  • War
  • Washington Outlook/Congress/White House
• Work & Labor
  • Business
  • Economy/Economic Policy
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Equal Pay/Fair Wage
  • Labor
  • Retirement
• Justice
  • Crime Policy/Legislation
  • Domestic Violence
  • Genital Mutilation
  • In The Courts
  • Immigration
  • Incarceration
  • Law
  • Rape
  • Prostitution and Trafficking
  • Sexual Harassment
• Health & Science
  • Health
  • Medicine
  • Reproductive Health
  • Abortion
  • Mental Health
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Athletics/Sports
  • Women in Science
  • Environment
• SERIES

The federal funding program for job creation has given states various ways to help workers hurt by the recession. Florida created jobs for low-income parents, many of them young single mothers. Mississippi gave preference to employers with small payrolls.

Tennessee Focuses on Perry County

Tennessee focused on subsidizing employment in Perry County, a small rural county of 7,600 people where the unemployment rate rose to 27 percent after two auto parts plants closed. About one-third of the 400 people who participated in the Perry County job creation program were women.

"We left no stone unturned and got the program up and running in only three weeks," said Donna Luna, the job program manager in Perry County. "We found jobs at 76 employers, everything from country clubs to insurance offices to hardware stores to trucking firms; even a pie company that added 12 employees to enable it to sell their products throughout the state. The participants earned an average hourly wage of $11."

Jan McKeel, executive director of the Columbia-based South Central Tennessee Workforce alliance, a nonprofit organization that has administered the program in parts of Tennessee, said that the alliance is determined to "keep the program going even if the federal subsidy ends Sept. 30 by finding new jobs for those who are let go."

"Two-thirds of the employers told us they would continue to employ at least one worker," said McKeel. "The program has boosted the chances of participants finding jobs. We had women who had only worked in customer service who acquired skills in bookkeeping, and other women who had worked in child care who found jobs in hotels and offices. As a result, they will have more employment opportunities."

McKeel said that the jobs program also prevented other workers from becoming unemployed because the participants spent their wages on food, housing and other necessities.

Illinois Creates More Than 35,000 Jobs

The $215 million Illinois program paid $10 an hour for a 30-to-40 hour work week for up to six months. The program exceeded the hopes of employers as well as participants. As of July, more than 35,000 jobs--more than double the state's original goal of 15,000--were created.

Churches and other community organizations in the state sponsored outreach programs to acquaint young single mothers and other needy people with opportunities for entry level jobs. Businesses also supported the program. Female entrepreneurs like Christy Webber of Chicago were among the most enthusiastic supporters. Webber hired 11 employees to supplement the 200-plus work force in her landscaping business. She started out the business as a one-woman grass cutting service 20 years ago.

Veteran employers also responded. Founded in 1903, the De Normandie Towel and Linen Supply Company, a family-owned business in Chicago that services hotels, hired 19 single mothers to work in its laundry, even though tourism was down this summer.

"The most important legacy of the TANF program is hope," said Perry County's Luna. "By helping individuals land jobs and employers expand their businesses, TANF proved that the challenges of the worst recession in 70 years are not insurmountable. As a result, both individuals and employers are in a better position to take further steps to rebuild their lives and the economy."

Would you like to Comment but not sure how? Visit our help page at http://www.womensenews.org/help-making-comments-womens-enews-stories.

Sharon Johnson is a freelance writer based in New York City.

For more information:

Office of Family Assistance: Approved Applications to TANF Emergency Funds:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/tanf/apprTANFemerfund.html

SUBSCRIBE DONATE

PRINT