Economic Programs

Urban League Employment Center
The Urban League has developed this center to serve as an employee training and workforce development facility for underserved members of the community. Located at the Urban League’s main offices, it offers a full-time career counselor and job placement services. The Employment Center provides career resource training such as resume and letter writing and computer skills. The Urban League also holds free training seminars and workshops at the Employment Center throughout the year. The center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
In partnership with the City of Chattanooga, the IRS and the United Way the Urban League coordinated the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) network. The VITA program offers free tax preparation service to individuals and families who earn an annual income of $40,000 or less. More than 3,542 persons sought assistance in completing their returns at one of the 19 VITA sites in Chattanooga during the 2007 tax season. These returns represented approximately $2.5 million in tax refunds that were reinvested in the local economy.

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
More than 650 people were placed in full-time, living wage employment
The program’s goal is to generate a sustained increase in physical activity
and nutritional knowledge among African American women. Sisters Together
offered participants workout sessions, nutrition classes, cooking classes,
pre and post health screenings, walking partners, promotional T-shirts,
fitness bags, water bottles/pedometers, and healthy restaurant discounts.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the BlueCross
BlueShield Foundation of Tennessee, UNUM, the State of Tennessee, and the
Lyndhurst Foundation.

Workforce Development
Since July 2006, more than 1200 people have visited the Urban League’s Employment Center and 684 (57%) were placed in full-time, living wage employment.  By placing clients of the Employment Center with
companies throughout the Chattanooga area, the Urban League’s job placement program contributed $6.5 million in returned wages to the local economy in 2007.  In addition to helping individuals find employment, the center also offered computer and Internet training and career workshops.  Workshop topics include resume writing, interviewing tips, making a great first impression, and resolving workplace conflict.

In 2007, more than 216 job seekers benefited from these workshops.

Contract Compliance
The Urban League works with local governments to ensure equal job opportunities for women and minority employees. During 2007, the Urban League made more than 100 monitoring visits to document women and minority hiring patterns for  Hamilton County.

 

Economic Empowerment Seminars and Workshops
In addition to ongoing programs, the Urban League sponsors multiple seminars and workshops to provide economic empowerment to underserved individuals. Topics for these programs include investments, financial literacy, and wealth building.

For information about upcoming workshops and seminars check the Urban League’s calendar or call 756.1762.