ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Dougherty County leaders gathered Tuesday, June 3 to discuss the federal government’s recent pausing operations of several job corps centers across the nation, including the Turner Job Corps Center in Albany.

During Tuesday’s press conference, Mayor Bo Dorough and other leaders encouraged South Georgians to reach out to state and federal leaders in attempt to reinstate funding for job corps centers.

One former student, who is currently earning his CDL license after attending Turner Job Corps, feels the program benefits students who may learn in a different way.

“It gives students the college experience they may never go and do. It gives them on the job training. But it teaches you to work through a lot of issues that you’re going to deal with in life,” the former student, Terrence Gay, said.

But critics say the program outcomes don’t justify the cost. The Department of Labor (DOL) reports that the Albany Turner Job Corps location reported a 28.6% traditional graduation rate, which includes students who completed the program in good standing.

The total cost to operate the program per traditional graduate was about $91,000.

No matter the data, Albany’s mayor stated that over 500 students were enrolled at Turner Job Corps when the DOL’s closure decision was made.

When WALB asked Mayor Dorough how many local students were enrolled at Turner Job Corps, he said the cuts were so sudden that data had not been given to him by Tuesday’s press conference.

“I personally think this is a grave mistake. If the [Trump] administration was really concerned, you could have put performance measures on Job Corps throughout the country — give you an opportunity to address these problems,” said Mayor Dorough.

Some of those problems, according to the DOL, also include the number of “Serious Incident Reports” in 2023. Some of those incidents are described as inappropriate sexual behavior and sexual assaults, acts of violence, breaches of safety or security, reported drug use and total hospital visits.

Turner Job Corps reported over 400 such incidents that year.

“I see these notices about the problems at job corps facilities throughout the country. And you know, it’s just a hatchet-job because it ignores the thousands of success stories,” continued Dorough.

WALB has learned that this closure will impact over 500 students, and 19% of those students are considered homeless. Additionally, almost 300 residents will lose their jobs.

The city, Albany Technical College and the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce say they are working to ensure the students and faculty at Turner Job Corps have the housing, employment and educational resources they will need after the deadline.

“We do not want to see a gap in our community, whether it be the residents that are there participating in the program or its employees,” said Jana Dyke with the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission.

Hundreds of WALB News 10 viewers have responded to our coverage of the Turner Job Corps closure. Many responses have been in support of the closure.

“For everyone blaming Trump, when is the last time you’ve been to Turner Job Corps? I don’t know how the place has held on for the past 10+ years. I remember the days when it was packed with students. It’s been a ghost town and falling apart for years.”

Another commenter, John Knight, quoted the DOL’s announcement where Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer mentions a fiscal analysis of the program.

“Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said,’ A startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis reveal the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve’”

A resource fair will take place at Turner Job Corps on June 5 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Those interested in participating can contact Mervin Ashley via email or phone at 229-603-8653.

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