A Merger That Will Assist the Area’s Jobless

One of the ironies of the sluggish local economy is that an agency dedicated to finding jobs for the unemployed and under-employed now finds itself a victim of the hard economic times.

That’s the case with New Lands Jobs, a nonprofit that opened its doors 24 years ago as a related ministry of Lynchburg Covenant Fellowship. The agency says it can no longer continue to provide services to those without jobs because of a sharp decline in financial contributions.

Executive Director Mike Danos said recently the organization has seen its donations drop in the past year to the point it has had to cut costs and reduce its staff from four people to two.

The agency’s mission since 1985 has been to “bring good people and good jobs together by assisting individuals ... with meaningful work while providing employers with candidates prepared to work.” It counsels those seeking jobs by helping them assess where they are in the job market, résumé writing, job counseling, how to conduct themselves during an interview and follow-up reviews with applicants who have been placed in jobs. Basic computer training is also included in its services for those seeking jobs.

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The beginning of the end for New Land Jobs emerged earlier this year when the United Way, which is having its own troubles raising money, decided not to make its usual contribution to the agency. United Way support, which has been about $50,000 annually, accounts for half of New Land’s annual budget.

While New Land is expected to shut its doors at the end of the fiscal year on June 30, the good news is that its services could be picked up by the Lynchburg Community Action Group. That nonprofit group serves low-income individuals and has expressed an interest in absorbing New Land’s programs.

LynCag executive director Jim Mundy said the boards of both organizations have supported the idea of merging and staff members are reviewing the legal and financial implications. “We hope we can make something happen that will benefit the people of the Central Virginia region,” Mundy said. “We think this would be a good fit for us.”

It’s not clear whether either of the two staffers at New Lands would keep their jobs, but Danos said that is really not important. “What matters,” he said, “is that the program keeps going. It’s not which entity that does it that’s important. It’s the service and helping people gain the knowledge and skills they need to find a job.”

United Way officials have acknowledged the importance of New Land’s services by earmarking $25,000 for LynCag to help with the cost of absorbing the agency’s program, if that should happen. The United Way has said the two groups would have to reach an agreement and provide written verification of the deal before the money could be released.

And that’s as it should be. Nonetheless, the prospects for the continuation of services being provided by New Land Jobs look good for the future. In this difficult economy, that will be an asset for the many folks in Lynchburg and surrounding area who are looking for jobs — or for better jobs. And that, in turn, will eventually strengthen the Lynchburg economy in the months ahead.