LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Last month the U.S. Department of Labor announced it is pausing operations at the Whitney M. Young Jr. Job Corps Center in Simpsonville.

The decision follows analysis from the DOL saying costs must be cut.


What You Need To Know

  • Operations at the Whitney M. Young Jr. Job Corps Center in Simpsonville are being paused

  •  U.S. Department of Labor said it is a funding issue

  •  More than 100 employees will be layed off  at the Whitney Young Center
  • The U.S. Department of Labor is calling on next the administration to help continue the program’s success

Since 1964, the job corps program has helped young people with training and education needed for employment.

Louisville activist Christopher 2X says he has seen the affects.

“It’s a very powerful resource. I believe that young people need to have in their connections,” said 2X. 

Job Corps is a free residential program for eligible young people between 16 and 24.

It can help people complete their GED or high school diploma, acquire career training in fields such as business, health, construction and culinary arts. The program also helps find employment, and help with other support services, such as housing, child care and transportation.

However, last month the DOL announced the pausing of operations at the Simpsonville center.

“When I heard the news about the potential closing, it really saddens my heart. When you got a resource like that, it’s devastating to hear that it will not be a resource anymore and especially as it relates to urban areas that our organization works in,” said 2X. 

Horizon Youth Services, a company contracted by the Department of Labor to run operations at Whitney M. Young Jr. Job Corps Center, sent a notice to Frankfort as part of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, announcing the termination of the program.

“The pause in operations at the Whitney M. Young Jr. Job Corps Center is resulting in layoffs that are expected to be permanent. All Horizon Youth Services employees, as well as those employed by our subcontracted partners under this contract, are affected by this action and their employment will be terminated by Jan. 31, 2025.”

Christopher 2X says the closure will leave holes in the community.

“Job corps has saved lives. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. It’s just these funding challenges that’s sometimes occur that take away a good resource that the community desperately needs,” he said. 

The Department of Labor said students at the temporarily paused job corps centers will be transferred to nearby centers to complete their training.

The notice from Horizon Youth Services said over 100 employees and subcontract partners will lose their jobs at the end of the month.

The U.S. Department of Labor said it is calling on next the administration to help continue the program’s success.