ATHOL – A $140,000 grant through the Healey-Driscoll Administration will help the Polus Center in Athol to continue its training program to help those with disabilities to find work in the retail and hospitality fields.

Announced earlier this month, the grant is among $900,000 provided to nine organizations which provide job training, employment placement and post-placement support for 275 young adults with disabilities for employment. The administration also released the People with Disabilities Workforce Data Dashboard, which offers a view of employment-related insights, encompassing disability type, geographic variations, remote work opportunities, unemployment rates, and labor force participation.

“It’s imperative that we recognize the diverse talents and contributions of individuals with disabilities,” said Healey in the announcement. “This dashboard not only sheds light on existing barriers but also highlights the immense potential of this segment of our workforce.”

Nancy Maguire, program coordinator for Young Adults With Disabilities (YAWD) at the Polus Center, said there has been a tremendous amount of growth over the years, not only in participation, but in businesses that work with the program. Business partners include Price Chopper, Whole Foods and Great Wolf Lodge, and she credited Christina Maglio at Price Chopper for her help in making the program run so well.

“This woman goes above and beyond her call of duty and honestly, it’s empathic, caring and action-oriented people like Tina that help make our efforts and these kinds of opportunities come to life,” Maguire said.

Now in its fourth year, the Retail and Hospitality Skills for Young Adults with Disabilities program provides a five-week virtual training program for 24 young adults, age 18-35, who are currently unemployed or underemployed and interested in working at one of the partner businesses in the central Massachusetts or greater Boston area.

Following the training, graduates will either continue with four weeks of on-the-job training and be supported until they get hired, or assisted by the Polus Center and a local MA Hire Career Center to find employment near where they live and be provided support until they learn the job and work independently.

In its first year, 16 people participated in the program, and Maguire said that last year, 22 joined the training. The only requirement is that an applicant live with a disability and be a Massachusetts resident.

“It’s grown by 10% each year,” she said. “I’m the first year on this project and I’m finding out about the need.”

Maguire said that for many of the applicants, this is their first job. Training is done with Thrive Consulting and includes best practices, health codes, how to alleviate conflict, resume-building and mock interviews.

“We really get them job-ready,” said Maguire.

Max Bowen can be reached at 413-930-4074 or mbowen@atholdailynews.com.