Ranking Member Scott, Workforce Community Defend Importance of Job Corps on Virginia’s Local Economy
“We are here to learn what we can do together to stand up for Job Corps, its staff, and its students, and fight back to ensure that young people in our community can continue to access opportunities to build a successful future.”
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, delivered the following remarks at a workforce community forum on the impact of the Trump Administration’s decision to close all Job Corps Centers on Virginia’s local economy. The Trump Administration is set to close the Blue Ridge Job Corps Center in Marion, Virginia, and the Old Dominion Job Corps Center in Monroe, Virginia.
View photos from the event here.
“Good evening, everyone. Thank you so much for joining us today to discuss the impact of the Trump Administration’s decision to close all Job Corps Centers; its impact on our local economy; and, what we can do to help current students and save these vital programs.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank the Job Corps students and alumni who have joined us here today. On the panel, we are joined by Jackson Dixon, Tyjere Wellons, and Renatisha Cottingham, all of whom are Job Corps alumni. I am eager to hear about your experiences at Job Corps and how they helped connect you with your current career.
“I would also like to thank:
- Mr. James Davis, the Outreach and Admissions Manager at Old Dominion Job Corps Campus;
- Shawn Avery, President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council;
- Tom Cosgrove, Corporate Citizenship and Government Relations Manager at Huntington Ingalls Industries; and
- Rochelle Ramsey-Walker, from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.
“Thank you all for participating in this forum.
“On May 29, the Department of Labor proposed the closure of nearly 100 Job Corps campuses nationwide, displacing thousands of students and terminating hundreds of staff members. In particular, the Trump Administration is set to close the Blue Ridge Job Corps Center in Marion, Virginia and the Old Dominion Job Corps Center in Monroe, Virginia.
“This decision is currently being litigated in the courts, and Job Corps Centers have not formally closed yet, thanks to a nationwide injunction. Despite the ongoing legal battle, the Trump Administration’s message is clear: they want to end Job Corps, which will harm vulnerable youth and local economies.
“Since its inception in 1964, Job Corps has trained over three million young Americans in various trades, including welding, carpentry, and medical services. Job Corps trains young, low-income people, helps them find good-paying jobs, and provides housing for a population that might otherwise be without a home. In addition to investing in youth, investing in Job Corps strengthens our economy. Each campus contributes an average of $10 million annually to the local community, employs 150 full-time and part-time staff, and graduates contribute an estimated $46 million each year to local economies. Over 80 percent of Job Corps graduates secure employment within six months of graduation.
“Moreover, Job Corps has also had long-standing bipartisan support in Congress. In 2019, the first Trump Administration similarly tried to close more than two dozen Job Corps centers operated by the Department of Agriculture. After vocal bipartisan outrage, the Administration reversed course and left the programs untouched.
“Saving Job Corps is even more critical now, as the Trump Administration’s irresponsible economic policies have left many Americans struggling to find jobs to support their families.
“Today, we will discuss how these closures will impact our local economy, and the students Job Corps serves. We are not here to do what I call ‘celebrating the problem.’ We are here to learn what we can do together to stand up for Job Corps, its staff, and its students, and fight back to ensure that young people in our community can continue to access opportunities to build a successful future.”
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