Cookeville’s FilterFab the latest local business to become an Empower Certified Employer.
Workforce Connections Business Services Coordinator Mallory Copeland said Empower Certified Employers are businesses that understand barriers to financial success, but commit to help people get a fair chance to achieve economic stability.
“These employers support families living under that 225 percent of the federal poverty level,” Copeland said. “And they meet certain qualifications such as fair wages and good workplace practices. And they’ve completed our virtual poverty IQ training to better understand the challenges that these people and families in poverty may face.”
Copeland said the program is a partnership between the Upper Cumberland Local Workforce Development Board, Empower Upper Cumberland, and local businesses. Copeland said employers are educated on challenges like the benefits cliff.
The benefits cliff is a term explaining a situation where someone who gets a raise but loses governement benefits may actually be worse off because their new wages do not cover the value their benefits did.
“We build relationships with [businesses] to learn what they value in candidates,” Copeland said. “Then I work with the navigators who directly support families in the Empower program, and help them develop these participants into the kind of employees that these local businesses are looking for.”
Copeland said FilterFab is one of many local employers to be Empower Certified. She said there are over 40 certified employers in the Upper Cumberland, and she has worked with several other companies in the past.
“These businesses believe in the work that we do,” Copeland said. “And they understand that it benefits both their company and the participants.”
Copeland said FilterFab and Workforce Connections have built a strong relationship over the last few years, and the company was eager to use the available resources.
Copeland said there are a few qualifications businesses need to meet to be Empower Certified. She said any business that offers at least $14 per hour, benefits, and a strong workforce culture would be a good fit to become Empower Certified.
Copeland said any businesses can work with Workforce Connections, but meeting the afore mentioned qualifications and completing the virtual training can be Empower Certified.
Certification comes with benefits. Copeland said Certified employers can have access to the partial works wage reimbursement program, which can help with the strain of adding more employers. They may also get a professional promotional video.
