ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Albany city Commissioner Jon Howard called on the community, businesses and state leaders to support the Turner Job Corps. Several city and community leaders were in attendance at a Thursday, June 12 press conference held by the city, including former Georgia Lt. Governor Mark Taylor.

Commissioner Howard pressed for the importance of supporting those impacted by the decision to halt funding for the Turner Job Corps. The funding cut was made to be in line with President Trump’s budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). In the DOL’s announcement, they said funding for all contracted job corps would be stopped.

The DOL said the national program is estimated to operate in a $213 million deficit in the 2025 fiscal year. In 2024, the program operated at a $140 million deficit, the DOL said. Other national statistics released from the first ever job corps transparency report from 2023 data indicates the following:

• A 38.6% graduation rate
• Average cost of $80,284.65 per student per year
• Average cost per graduate of $155,600.74
• Acts of violence reported: 1,764

Former Lt. Governor Mark Taylor commented on the funding cut, saying it was a, “Wrong-headed cut from the Trump administration — cutting into the muscle of America. He’s not cutting fat.”

“This is absolutely a horrific time in Southwest Georgia history to have a cut of this magnitude,” Taylor continued. “We are going to fight this cut. But in the meantime, we need to focus on those young people, and we need to focus on those folks who have lost those great jobs out there. As a community, we need to ride to their rescue wherever possible.”

In support of those impacted by the closure, Taylor donated $1,000 worth of $50 gift cards on behalf of the Fred Taylor company. Those gift cards will be given to students to help them buy items to transition out of the job corps.

Commissioner Howard said he hopes to provide as many resources as possible when students have to leave the job corps campus later this month. If you would like to help, students need toiletries, socks, luggage and other clothing items. Donations can be made at the Thornton Gym in Albany.

A rally will be held this Saturday at 2000 Schilling Avenue in Albany, from noon to 2 p.m. in support of the Turner Job Corps. In the event of rain, the rally will be moved to Thornton Gym.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2025 WALB. All rights reserved.