Media Contact: Laura Byrnes, APR, CPRC
Director of Communications
Direct: 352.291.9559 Mobile: 352.816.1264
[email protected]
OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 14, 2021) – The Pinellas County Urban League has returned to CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion’s career center in Ocala to assist eligible mature workers find jobs.
The Urban Seniors Job Program (USJP) provides subsidized service-based training for low-income persons 55 and older who are unemployed and committed to finding employment and opportunities. Authorized by the Older Americans Act, the USJP encourages self-sufficiency by providing participants with useful, subsidized employment training that leads to unsubsidized employment. Eligible seniors can earn up to $865 a month in the job training program.
USJP representatives are available weekdays by appointment only from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the CareerSource CLM career center, 2703 NE 14th St., in Ocala. Required appointments may be made by calling 352-840-5700, ext. 1151. For the safety of customers and staff, public health protocols continue to be observed in the center, including wearing masks.
The Urban League serves every municipality in Pinellas County as well as Marion, Hernando, Lake, Seminole, and Sumter counties. Rusty Skinner, CEO of CareerSource CLM, noted that the USJP is one of CareerSource CLM’s community partners focused on assisting mature workers with re-employment services.
“We are so happy to welcome the Urban League back to Marion County to assist our seniors in need,” Skinner said. “The Urban League had been out of the center since March 2020 due to the pandemic and we have definitely seen an influx of mature workers coming through our doors looking for employment.”
Between 2007 and 2017, 1,376 program participants were placed into jobs and 72 percent retained employment. To be eligible for the program, seniors must live in Marion County and should have two or more of the following “most-in-need” characteristics: have a disability, live in an area with persistent unemployment and/or have limited employment prospects, have limited English proficiency, have low literacy skills, live in a rural area, are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, or are veterans.
Through the USJP, participants receive workforce-based training services and work an average of 20 hours per week through community service assignments while earning the highest federal, state or local minimum wage.
“These assignments allow participants to be placed into a wide variety of community service activities at nonprofit and public facilities, including day-care centers, senior centers, schools and hospitals,” Skinner said. “Community service training serves as a bridge to unsubsidized employment.”
For more information and/or to make an appointment, call 352-840-5700, ext. 1151 or 800-434-JOBS (5627).
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CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion is an equal opportunity employer/program supported by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and other agencies as part of awards totaling $7.9 million (revised annually). Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities and in Spanish. All voice telephone numbers may be reached using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711. For accommodations, call 800-434-5627, ext. 7878 or mail [email protected]. CareerSource CLM is a proud partner of the American Job Center network and member of CareerSource Florida.