Resource event held for Job Corps participants affected by federal funding cut

Wednesday, June 04, 2025

Resource event held for Job Corps participants affected by federal funding cut

In response to the federal government’s decision to close the JobCorps program nationwide, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS), alongside state, local, and community-based organization partners, held a dual-site resource event in Albuquerque and Roswell for Job Corps participants. The event was designed to Job Corps participants with employment opportunities, housing, and other essential services.

“Job Corps played a key role in our workforce system, empowering at-risk youth to pursue education, find jobs, and become self-sufficient. Our department mobilized immediately to support Job Corps participants through this transition,” said NMDWS Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair. “The community, our staff, and our partners took swift action to ensure the participants in Albuquerque and Roswell land on their feet after this abrupt closure.”

The events took place at the Job Corps locations in Albuquerque at 1500 Indian School Road and in Roswell at 57 G Street for participants, who are aged 16-24. New Mexico Job Corps has been a residential program, providing free education, training, and career development services to at-risk youth. The U.S. Department of Labor announced the decision to pause Job Corps operations, a federally funded program, by June 30 nationwide last week, with the state having no control over the program’s funding.

Attendees of each resource event today received information and access to resources on employment pathways, training, apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, housing assistance, trade-specific networking and more. The Eastern and Central Workforce Development Boards, Youth Development Initiative (YDI), Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), New Day, and Bernalillo County helped make the events possible.

"YDI was happy to bring together several partners including the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Day Family & Youth Services, Tenderlove, and Senator Linda Lopez to ensure and support our displaced local Job Corps students with continued housing and case management services past the closure of the facility,” said Robert Chavez, YDI Chief Executive Officer. “This is what partnership and collaboration accomplishes for our youth and community."

“I’m impressed with how quickly the partners came together to help find solutions for the students that were leaving with unstable circumstances,” said Luis De La Cruz, Workforce Development Director, Eastern New Mexico Workforce Development Board. “Through this effort, arrangements were made for housing, Medicaid, nutritional support as well as enrollment in Health, Safety, and Environment courses, NM Youth Challenge, and the Unearthing Future Opportunity programs.”

A hiring and resource event for Job Corps staff is scheduled for June 10th at both the America’s Job Center Albuquerque and America’s Job Center Roswell. Public and private sector employers will be on site at those events, ready to recruit participants, and will be joined by community-based organizations, city officials, and state partners who will provide additional resources and services.

America’s Job Centers New Mexico locations are available across the state. Services and resources include job search assistance, access to thousands of job listings, career fairs, assistance with resumes and cover letters, interview preparation, job application support, and other related resources.