ACC program will connect women 50+ with employers

College is one of five nationwide awarded an AARP grant for its BACK TO WORK initiative

Austin Community College was awarded a $300,000 grant from the AARP Foundation to implement the BACK TO WORK 50+: Women’s Economic Stability Initiative, a program designed to help women age 50 and older find local jobs.

“This is an innovative program that will forge career pathways, helping women in need gain valuable jobs skills, find local jobs, and build financial security,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president/CEO. “They’ll be equipped with the tools for success.”

The grant, which will be distributed over three years, will allow the college to develop a set of integrated core services for qualified participants, including:

  • Employer access
  • Community building
  • Individual and group coaching
  • Computer skills coaching
  • Academic coaching for job skills training
  • Financial capability building

According to AARP, Americans ages 50 and older represent the largest overall increase in long-term unemployment. Older women bear the greater share of this burden: 60 percent of women 65 and older have incomes insufficient to cover basic expenses.

ACC was named only one of five community colleges nationwide to receive grant funding for the program, a proud subgrantee of the Social Innovation Fund.

“AARP Foundation is very pleased to work together with community colleges to help older women who face disproportionately higher rates of long-term unemployment find the good jobs they need to avoid slipping into poverty,” says Emily Allen, AARP Foundation, vice president of income impact area.  “These colleges were selected because of their strong community ties to employers, because of their demonstrated capacity to implement similar projects, and because of their commitment to both help 50+ women and build institutional support for helping older workers find employment.”

ACC will work in partnership with local organizations including Austin Dress for Success to host a series of information sessions at Highland Campus:

  • Thursday, August 6, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, August 11, 1 – 3 p.m.
  • Tuesday, September 8, 1 – 3 p.m.
  • Tuesday, October 13, 1 – 3 p.m.
  • Tuesday, November 10,1- 3 p.m.

For more information contact Stacey Güney at 512-223-7351 or [email protected]. To learn more visit aarp.org/backtowork50plus. To register for a session call  855-850-2525.

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