Benefiting From The Proper Application
Employ Prince George’s Hosts Its Second Grant Giveaway At MGM National Harbor
Story and Photography By Raoul Dennis
For four county-based businesses, good things did come to those who apply.
Following in the path of over 160 businesses before them, Go Get ‘Em Going Towing ($20,160), Rising Generations ($2,167), CJS Trucking & Transportation ($37,440) and Housing Options & Planning Enterprises ($11,250) each received grants from Employ Prince George’s at a business brunch reception event at MGM National Harbor Oct. 14. Del. Darryl Barnes served as a keynote speaker.
Alexander Austin PHOTO BY RAOUL DENNIS// PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA
“It went very, very well,” said Employ Prince George’s Director of Business Services Alexander Austin who spoke as much to EPG’s success as the success of the Rapid Re-Employment Grants Distribution Ceremony. “I’m very glad to see employers and our partners in the room, very excited for those new companies who hired Prince George’s County residents. I’m looking forward to the next quarter where we do it again.”
And they’ve been doing it well. EPG has awarded over 160 businesses, giving out more the $5 million to employers since November 2020. The grant helped employers hire over 650 unemployed Prince George’s County residents.
Grant recipient Connie R. Gorum, CEO of C.L. Russell Group, LLC, a workforce training agency, acknowledged the impact that Employ Prince George’s has made on her business –- twice upon receiving her second grant.
Employ Prince George’s has delivered some $5 million in grants to local businesses since 2020
“Our company was in a position of growth until the pandemic,” Gorum says. “The pandemic required CLRG to postpone our hiring efforts for two additional staff members, our in-person training events were abruptly canceled, and many of our client contract budgets designated for training services were redirected to meet their demands in other areas caused by the pandemic. This was a major decline in our revenue and caused us to temporarily lay off more than half of our staff. When we learned about the Employ PG Rapid Re-Employment Grant we promptly applied and were awarded! The grant positioned us to hire two additional positions to help maintain our operations support to increase our capabilities. Having these two additional positions gave CLRG the resources to pivot into a new industry that actually helped us survive the pandemic.”
Those are the kinds of responses that EPG’s Chief Program Officer Jeffrey Swilley hopes for in his strategy and planning sessions. He works with special projects in coordination with county officials and workforce strategies. The recent round of grants has been part of the Covid 19 recovery to get residents employed again and get some relief to county businesses that suffered as a result of the pandemic.
“It’s incredibly rewarding,” Swilley says. “You know that you have been a part of making it possible for an employer to hire someone and that someone is now in a position to provide for their family.”
Swilley’s role puts him in an oversight position to develop EPG’s initiatives for 2023 and beyond. He says one goal includes addressing the county’s talent drain.
Jeffrey Swilley PHOTO BY RAOUL DENNIS// PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA
“The University of Maryland says 50% of their graduates who may be Prince George’s County residents go on to get jobs in Montgomery County after graduating,” Swilley says.
The response will be EPG’s College to Careers program in 2023.
“We’re looking to connect with those students before they graduate --- while they’re in junior or senior year – and provide job readiness support and work exploration opportunities. We plan to engage them---and more importantly, connect them to job opportunities here in the county before they graduate.”
