BAMBERG, S.C. () — Across the nation, Job Corps Centers are closing their doors, and the situation in Bamberg is particularly impactful. This closure signifies more than just the loss of a building; it’s a setback for employment, opportunities, and the prospects of young individuals in the area.
“The closure of Job Corps could very well cost some young man, some young woman, their future,” Mayor Cory Ramsey said.
Ramsey recently learned that the Bamberg Job Corps, South Carolina’s sole center, will permanently cease operations by June 30. “Even if it’s as few as five positions, the loss of those jobs is significant. It’s not just students who are affected but also the employees who rely on these roles for their livelihood. It’s a substantial loss that we’re unfortunately forced to face,” he expressed.
His concerns extend beyond employment to the altered lives of those impacted. “The center offered a chance for young people to envision their futures. It enabled them to consider possibilities for their lives, steering away from past difficulties,” he explained.
Ramsey says the center gave students structure, mentoring, and a new path forward — often when no one else could or would. “Too often do we lose our children to systematic, marginalization systematic things that seems as if others are trying to serve themselves rather than serve others. And so that’s not acceptable,” the mayor added.
The Labor Department blames low graduation rates and a $213 million shortfall.
But Ramsey says the numbers don’t tell the whole story. “Beneath all of the black and white, they are those individual stories that their lives changed drastically because of Job Corps,” Ramsey said.
He also fears the ripple effect. SC Works just opened a connection center here to help folks find jobs. You may remember — we showed it to you last year. “What if that connection center, the next lawyer, the next, CEO of a company, they were going there for just their get their resume online.”
Mayor Ramsey says he plans to meet with Job Corps leadership within the next week — to offer support and learn more about what’s next for the students.
