By Holly Toal<br><a href="mailto:holly.toal@journal-register.com">E-mail Holly</a>
Orleans County residents who are either looking for a job or having trouble keeping a job because of transportation or other obstacles are able to lean on Community Action for support.
Since September, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee Counties has been offering one-on-one assistance to county residents who need help reaching their career goals, but not many people have heard about the program.
“There is a lot that we have to offer, but nobody knows about it,” said Randi Lang, an employment specialist with Community Action.
“Our whole goal with this is to help people be self-sufficient,” said Jill Taylor, coordinator of employment services. She works at The Main Street Store in Albion, where Community Action has computers and other resources for job-seekers to use.
The services are made possible through a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was signed into legislation by President Barack Obama in February 2009 as part of the economic stimulus package, to create jobs and boost the economy.
Community Action of Orleans and Genesee Counties received $627,000 from ARRA in August 2009. Those funds went toward creating three new positions in Orleans County — including Lang’s and Taylor’s positions — and in turn, the mission of those employees is to help county residents find work and keep steady jobs.
The grant also makes possible transportation services, financial assistance and other resources.
“The whole purpose of ARRA was to create jobs,” said Lang.
With an unemployment rate of 11.4 in Orleans County — an increase from 9 percent last year — it would seem there are plenty of people in the county who could use the help.
“A lot of people that I come in contact with do not have resumes, or don’t know how to apply to places,” said Taylor. “Another thing that I think is a big help is building interview skills.”
At The Main Street Store, residents can use community computers to learn how to create resumes and cover letters, find jobs online, get computer training, learn how to get their GED, practice their interview skills and make other job-finding preparations.
“Also, we talk about how to keep a job once they have it,” Taylor explained. “Instead of job-jumping.”
In addition, Taylor can help someone find an “interview outfit” with clothes from The Main Street Store.
“There are no restrictions for people looking for a job,” Taylor stressed.
Places of business can also contact Community Action when they have job openings.
Lang mostly deals with case management and helps people who are employed but have some sort of crisis that may be making it difficult for them to get to work. By far, the biggest barrier she sees is a lack of transportation.
“There are so many people who are unemployed because of transportation,” she said.
Community Action has a driver who can take people to work when their vehicles break down, if they can’t take the bus, or for other reasons.
Community Action can also assist residents who need help with prescription costs, medical bills, gas money, child care, food assistance, housing assistance and other expenses that are making it hard for them to continued their daily lifestyles.
Taylor and Lang stressed that these services would not have been possible without the ARRA grant. They said that the more people use the program, the better chance Community Action has of getting the grant and providing these services for another year.
“I think we’ve done a lot of good,” Taylor said.
Since the program began in September, Taylor has helped 17 people find employment, and Lang has helped eight people keep their jobs.
“The program opens doors for people,” Taylor said. “It gives them opportunities.”
For help finding a new job, contact Jill Taylor at The Main Street Store, 45-49 N. Main St., Albion; 589-1430. For help with challenges that are making it hard for you to keep your job, contact Randi Lang at Community Action, 409 E. State St., Albion; 589-9015.
