REDUCE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT

Removing barriers to employment helps qualified talent fill open positions and fosters a more inclusive economy.

The Power of People with Disabilities as Consumers and Employees

Join the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Opportunity ATL for a discussion with experts on the power of people with disabilities, as consumers and employees. We will hear from the Educational Leadership Institute about the positive impact of intentionally building consumer relationships with the disabled community. We will also hear from leaders at the Bobby Dodd Institute who will not only review incentives available to employers who hire people with disabilities, but also share how they work with employers to find work opportunities for people with disabilities.

Watch the video here.

Second Chances - What the Second Chances Bill Means for Georgia Employers

Georgia’s Second Chances Bill (Senate Bill 288) removes barriers to individuals participating in the workforce by allowing certain misdemeanor offenses to be expunged after specific criteria are met. Simultaneously, it expands liability protections for employers who hire someone with a criminal history. Expanding record restriction saves employers significant time and money in the screening process of applicants by removing conviction information that is not relevant to the hiring process. Georgia employers have been implementing policies and strategies to include more people with criminal records, but it is an onerous process that is not necessary in many other states with record restriction already in place. While Georgia is still one of the more conservative states when it comes to record restrictions, SB 288 better aligns our state with 40 other states that have enacted reforms making it easier to hire individuals with criminal histories. In 2019, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Mississippi extended record restriction eligibility to include more felony charges; Missouri, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas extended eligibility to include more misdemeanors.

Changing Georgia’s Law so certain convictions can be restricted and sealed after a period of time yields opportunity for nearly 1.5 million Georgians who are rehabilitated and want to work. Helping returning citizens gain employment to fill open positions is good for business and for the community because employment is one of the most effective ways to reduce recidivism. And the expansion of liability protection for employers who hire someone with a criminal history supports employers trying to include more individuals in their workforce with background barriers.

With Sen. Tonya Anderson (D-Lithonia) and Rep. Houston Gains (R-Athens) leading the way at the Capitol, the Metro Atlanta Chamber worked closely with the Georgia Justice Project and a diverse group of coalition members to move the Second Chances Bill across the finish line. With bi-partisan support, Senate Bill 288 passed both the House and the Senate chambers unanimously on June 24, 2020. The bill was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp on August 5, 2020 and goes into effect January 1, 2021. The implementation of SB 288 will further our efforts to keep Georgia the No. 1 state in the Nation in which to do business and foster a more inclusive economy.

CHILDCARE CHALLENGES

Starting in 2018, GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students and the Metro Atlanta Chamber set out to better understand the prevalence, nature, and impact of childcare challenges through a survey and series of focus groups with parents of young children. The results are alarming.

• 1 in 4 experienced significant employment disruptions in the last year

• 1 in 5 missed more than a full week of work in the last 6 months

• Georgia businesses and families lost at least $1.75 billion in economic activity

To help employers attract and retain talent, particularly parents of young children, the Advancing Opportunity has recommendations for employers, from increasing flexibility to offering dependent care assistance plans. For a full list of ways employers can help mitigate childcare challenges, check out the full report here.

AFFORDABLE LOANS FOR RELIABLE CARS

Lack of reliable transportation is the number one reason people lose their jobs. Through predatory lenders, people overpay for older, unreliable cars, financed at rates as high as 27%. Unforeseen repairs devastate their finances. On the Road Lending helps people avoid these risks by finding them affordable, fuel-efficient cars that are under warranty.

The program uses character-based lending, not credit scores, to evaluate risk and prepare individuals for a vehicle loan. The nonprofit arm, On the Road Lending, works with clients for a few months while they save for a down payment, complete financial education, compile documents for their loan, and work with a coach before selecting a car. Then the loan is arranged through On the Road Lending’s loan fund, OTR Fund I, LLC, which is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. CDFIs provide credit and financial services to underserved markets and populations to help low-income and other disadvantaged people join the economic mainstream. The process starts on our website at www.ontheroadlending.org/apply. There potential clients find a short list of information to gather before they begin the application process. Next, they work with a coach to determine if their budget allows them to qualify, complete financial education, and plan for car ownership. We help them select a vehicle that fits their lifestyle and budget and stay with them for the life of their loan providing financial mentorship.

For more information on how the program works, click here or reach out to Lonnie Smith, VP - Business Development/Regional Director Southeast US.

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