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WorkSource Cobb opens $5 million South Cobb center in Mableton
Summary
WorkSource Cobb held a ribbon-cutting in Mableton for a renovated former fire station converted into a $5 million workforce center, funded largely with Cobb County ARPA and a $1 million CDBG allocation. Officials and partners said the center will expand job training, youth programs and business services for South Cobb residents.
WorkSource Cobb opened a new workforce center in Mableton, South Cobb, in a ribbon-cutting ceremony that officials said marks a $5,000,000 investment to expand services for job seekers, youth and local businesses.
The center, housed in a renovated former fire station, was funded with more than $3,000,000 from Cobb County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and a $1,000,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation, speakers said. County and local leaders described the facility as a long-term investment in workforce development and economic resilience for South Cobb.
"I have the pleasure of serving as the board chair for WorkSource Cobb," Danae Badillo McCray said, welcoming attendees and framing the center as the product of a decade of partnership. WorkSource Cobb executive Sonia Grant described the opening as "an honor" and thanked staff, board members and community partners for making the center possible.
Why it matters: WorkSource Cobb said it previously served more than 10,000 people and hundreds of businesses annually from Marietta and expects the new site to increase capacity in South Cobb. Commissioner Monique Sheffield said she committed $20,000 from her Board of Commissioners contingency funds to equip a computer lab at the center, which she described as a resource for youth, entrepreneurs and residents exploring career pathways.
Program impact and personal stories: Alexia Harper, a 19-year-old who participated in WorkSource Cobb programs, described her experience as transformative. "I was part of the WIOA program," Harper said. "I'm now being funded to go back to school and pursue my MSN." Speakers pointed to youth mentorship, resume and career coaching, credentials in high-demand fields, apprenticeship and internship connections, and wraparound supports such as transportation and childcare as core services the center will provide.
Funding and partners: Dr. Kimberly Roberts, who oversees Cobb County's Community Development Block Grant program, said CDBG funds are "allocated to the county from HUD" and are designated for low-income households. She and other speakers thanked federal, county and private partners for investment in the project. Sharon Mason, president of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, and elected officials from Cobb County and the newly formed city of Mableton spoke about the center's role in supporting business recruitment and local hiring.
History and local context: Multiple speakers described the project as more than a single building: Chairwoman Lisa Cupid traced nearly a decade of community advocacy, task force work and county-level coordination that she said helped secure the funding and political will to convert the decommissioned fire station into a workforce center for South Cobb. Mayor Michael Owens of Mableton described the facility as serving the wider South Cobb community, including neighboring cities.
Next steps and access: Organizers said the facility will offer job training, professional development, business incubation support and a computer lab; officials encouraged residents and employers to connect with WorkSource Cobb for program details and services. The ribbon-cutting concluded with photo opportunities and a public tour of the center.
