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Albany officials, nonprofits and businesses mobilize after Turner Job Corps excluded from federal budget
Summary
City leaders, Open Arms and Renaissance Bank announced a centralized donation account and other local supports after Turner Job Corps funding was left out of the federal budget; organizers urged businesses and residents in Albany and Dougherty County to help displaced students and staff.
Commissioner John Howe, city commissioner for Ward 1 in East Albany, said the 2026 federal budget — which the city expects to take effect Oct. 1, 2025 — does not include funding for Job Corps and that the exclusion has left Turner Job Corps slated to close, prompting a local effort to support displaced students and staff.
"Job Corps bill is not in the budget," Howe said at a public briefing called to coordinate a community response. Officials and nonprofit partners described a transitional period in which Turner cannot provide services to students and noted Department of Labor funds are likely to be insufficient to meet all placement and support needs.
Fonda Thompson, executive director of Open Arms, the Albany child abuse center that works with runaway and homeless youth and already partners with Turner, said Open Arms will open and manage a donation account for Turner students. "Our physical address is 420 Pine Avenue. Our phone number is (229) 431-1121. We also have a crisis line, (229) 431-0217," Thompson said, and invited residents and businesses to call or drop off contributions.
A bank representative identified in the briefing as Evelyn Ross of Renaissance Bank said the bank will support the account-management structure and stressed privacy and controls for donor funds. "All contributions would therefore need to be made to Open Arms," Ross said, adding that any distributions intended for students would be made through Open Arms and Turner Job Corps.
A business representative speaking on behalf of the Fred Taylor Company urged Albany and Dougherty County businesses to provide additional support, noting the local economic impact of the closure. "If you think about the economic impact of 300 good paying jobs being lost to our community, of over 500 students … that was improving our tax base that has been lost to us," the representative said, calling the situation "a human impact" that local private support can help mitigate.
Organizers also described donated in-kind items: volunteers and an anonymous donor provided suitcases and material items to help students who lack personal property for travel. Officials said they will continue to coordinate with the city manager and other local leaders to clarify next steps and support pathways for students as placements are arranged.
No formal vote or municipal action was taken at the briefing; speakers framed the meeting as an informational and coordination session and urged community members and businesses to contribute to the Open Arms-managed account to help students transition.
Background: Speakers said the closure followed decisions in the recently passed federal budget; the briefing emphasized local, private-sector and nonprofit efforts to fill gaps while placements and federal transitional procedures are carried out.
