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Albany leaders, Open Arms and local businesses mobilize after Turner Job Corps funding cut
Summary
City and community leaders in Albany, Georgia organized a local relief effort after Turner Job Corps lost federal funding; Open Arms will manage donations and local businesses pledged support.
Commissioner John Howe, city commissioner for Ward 1 in east Albany, on Wednesday convened local officials, nonprofit leaders and business representatives to coordinate support for students and staff affected by the closure of Turner Job Corps after the program’s funding was excluded from the federal budget that takes effect Oct. 1, 2025.
The meeting focused on immediate relief and transition planning. "Open Arms has been chosen to open the account so the community will be able to donate," said Fonda Thompson, executive director of Open Arms, which describes itself as a center serving abused, runaway and homeless youth and a current partner with Turner. Thompson provided Open Arms’ address, 420 Pine Avenue, and phone numbers for donations and a crisis line: (229) 431-1121 and (229) 431-0217.
Banking partners outlined how donated funds will be handled. Evelyn Ross, a Renaissance Bank representative and financial literacy instructor who works with Turner students, said contributions should be made to Open Arms and that the agency will manage distributions. "All contributions would therefore need to be made to Open Arms," Ross said, and the bank emphasized privacy and safeguards for account holders.
Business leaders urged community support and pledged financial help. A representative speaking for the Fred Taylor Company described the closure as "tragic" and said the company will continue its financial support during students’ transitions. The speaker said the closure will have a significant local economic effect, estimating about 300 employees displaced and more than 500 students affected; those figures were presented by the speaker at the meeting and are not independently verified.
City organizers and partners said federal Department of Labor transitional funds may be insufficient to cover all needs and described the effort as a community-driven response. "This is a community effort. Please support this endeavor whatever way you can," Jacob said in closing.
No formal municipal action or vote took place at the meeting. The next steps announced were coordination between Turner Job Corps, Open Arms and Renaissance Bank on fund management and targeted outreach to local businesses and donors. Community members seeking to contribute were directed to contact Open Arms at the phone numbers provided.
What remains unresolved is the scale of need and the gap between federal transitional assistance and on-the-ground costs; organizers asked for donations and in-kind support while partners continue planning for student placements and basic needs.
