City of Refuge to Add Welding Program to Workforce Development Platform

$350,000 donation from Norfolk Southern enables Westside Atlanta-based nonprofit to launch job training course for in-demand welding sector as Atlanta experiences significant growth

ATLANTA (Nov. 20, 2024) — As demand for skilled labor rises in Atlanta, City of Refuge, a nonprofit based in the city’s Westside neighborhood, is launching a welding course as part of the organization’s Workforce Development program. Funded with a $350,000 donation from Atlanta-based freight transportation giant Norfolk Southern Corporation, the course will provide hands-on training in Arc, TIG and MIG welding.

“Atlanta is experiencing remarkable growth, fueling construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects happening across the city and the broader metro region,” said Bruce Deel, founder and CEO of City of Refuge. “With that, there’s a critical need for skilled labor that is capable of carrying these projects to completion, especially as the old guard increasingly retires. Our new welding program will arm workers with the skills they need to thrive, supporting economic development and filling the labor gap. Many thanks to Norfolk Southern for seeing the value in this program and investing in our mission.”

City of Refuge is working closely with TOMCO Systems, one of the organization’s corporate partners, in addition to Lincoln Electric and Airgas, to develop the welding program and source key equipment, including welders, VR, consumables and masks. The team will establish a classroom and training space for the program on City of Refuge’s campus, located at 1300 Joseph E. Boone Blvd.

The space will feature up to six welding stations for two students each, with a capacity for 12 students in each class cohort. Training will take place four days a week for 10 weeks. The program’s first year would have two cohorts, and the following years would have at least three cohorts. Graduates of the program can earn around $40,000 per year for entry-level welding work, while experienced welders can earn up to $70,000 annually.

“As part of our commitment to supporting workforce development in the communities where we operate, we’re proud to partner with City of Refuge in building a welding training center that will equip local residents with valuable skills and open doors to rewarding careers,” said PC Bryant, Norfolk Southern AVP of Human Resources. “As we help lay the groundwork for local talent, we look forward to making a positive, lasting impact within our network.”

City of Refuge’s workforce development platform, or the Workforce Innovation Hub, was launched to widen the availability of work opportunities for residents of Atlanta’s historic Westside neighborhood, where the average household income is just $29,287 compared to $77,635 for surrounding Fulton County. Residents face significant barriers to finding meaningful employment, including limited access to quality training, a lack of networks that connect them to potential employers, and the absence of support systems needed to pursue their goals.

The Workforce Innovation Hub has graduated more than 750 individuals from vocational training classes and placed more than 2,500 individuals in jobs. These positions often offer starting wages of $18-20 per hour, with vocational training graduates achieving starting salaries of up to $80,000+ along with benefits. Other vocational training programs offered by City of Refuge include culinary, forklift, cybersecurity, coding, data analytics, automotive technician, customer service, data cabling and more.

Since the organization was founded in 1997, City of Refuge has transformed thousands of lives by providing the tools individuals and families need to break down barriers through a strategic mix of supportive services that target health & wellness, housing, vocational training and youth development. The nonprofit is headquartered on the Westside and has several satellite campuses across the country.