ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Community members in the Good Life City came together on June 14 to voice their concerns on the Turner Job Corps Center’s closing.

At the rally, people shared their reasons for why they believe the center should remain open despite the Department of Labor’s decision to close several facilities nationwide. The DOL said that the closure decision was to stay in line with the Trump administration’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026.

Congressman Sanford Bishop, who attended the event in Albany today, said that he is working with other lawmakers — republicans and democrats — to ensure job corps centers can remain open.

The congressman said, “Never mind all the 65 years of positive contributions that Job Corps has made to our workforce. To date, there have been 120 lawsuits filed and 80 injunctions against the Trump administration with the cuts they are making, and the things they are trying to do.”

Turner Job Corps Center alumni also spoke at the event, saying their time at the job corps helped them become who they are today. They said they don’t want to see other people become homeless and without jobs because of federal budget cuts.

“I learned three different trades, and I’ve used them in life,” Diana Brown, an Albany Commissioner, added. “This community is here. This is what democracy looks like. We will not let them tear down our democracy. We got to stand together. We got to band together. We gotta fight for what’s right.”

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