A $1.36 million federal grant will provide more job training and placement services for older workers, particularly in Pierce, Thurston, Grays Harbor and Lewis counties where waiting lists are longest.

The Department of Labor grant announced Jan. 29 will fund 140 placements into the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), according to Richard Corak, director of Workforce Development for Tacoma Goodwill. The money will also provide for additional case management in South Lacey and Yakima, where the emphasis will be on Hispanic outreach. Additional recruitment of host agencies also will take place.

“We have seen a marked increase in need especially in these tough times,” said Corak, who noted a third of Goodwill’s SCSEP participants are over 65 and 41 percent face homelessness. “This grant will help shorten the waiting list across our service area.”

SCSEP provides temporary subsidized, part-time community service work for people age 55 and older to help them build current work skills and develop a current work history. Call Goodwill at 800.606.9849 for additional information.