"Partnerships with organizations like Grant Associates that train and support job seekers in their local communities are key to RISE Up’s success."
WASHINGTON – The NRF Foundation today announced that it has formed a partnership with workforce development company Grant Associates, Inc. to provide the Foundation’s RISE Up training and credentials to approximately 150 job seekers in New York City and the Washington metropolitan area.
“Partnerships with organizations like Grant Associates that train and support job seekers in their local communities are key to RISE Up’s success,” NRF Foundation President Ellen Davis said. “Our credentials teach the skills needed to land a job in retail, and we value the support services Grant Associates offers would-be workers as they launch promising careers in our thriving industry.”
“We’re excited to work with the NRF Foundation to bring this training opportunity to job seekers,” Grant Associates President Doug Cotter said. “The retail industry provides critical entry-level and long-term career opportunities — including career pathways to technology and management — in communities large and small, and this training is a great way to gain the skills employers seek.”
Grant Associates is using online training for the Foundation’s Retail Industry Fundamentals credential to complement a full suite of wrap-around services including career exploration, technical training, referral to partner agencies, career placement and advancement support.
Training for job seekers served by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program began earlier this month at WorkSource Montgomery Young Adult Opportunity Program in Montgomery County, Md. and New York City Human Resources Administration facilities in Harlem and Brooklyn. Individuals who complete the training will be referred to local employer partners.
The Retail Industry Fundamentals credential prepares participants for jobs in entry-level retail positions in distribution centers, call centers and stores. The training is designed to provide a wide array of knowledge in areas such as retail tools and technologies, customer service, retail math, inventory and interview skills.
The NRF Foundation launched RISE Up in January 2017 and is working with retail, nonprofit and public education partners nationwide to help people regardless of education, background, economic means or age acquire the skills they need to secure jobs in retail and advance into promising careers. Since its launch, more than 45,000 participants have completed RISE Up training and credentials.
The Foundation designed the training in collaboration with dozens of retailers, nonprofits and foundations, ensuring that the skills and training it provides meet industry needs, and that the materials created are user-friendly for nonprofits and education groups. The training can be delivered in the classroom or online to people of all backgrounds, ages and education levels. Click here to learn more about RISE Up.
About NRF Foundation
The NRF Foundation shapes retail’s future by building awareness of the industry through statistics and stories; developing talent through education, experiences and scholarships; and fostering career growth among people who work in retail. The NRF Foundation is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of the National Retail Federation and is funded in part by generous donations from retail industry supporters. NRF.com/Foundation.
Grant Associates, Inc.
Grant Associates is a national, award-winning workforce development company that has become a trailblazer and a force for innovation in delivering workforce services nationally. A certified Woman-Owned Business, we have operated nearly 80 different programs in communities of all sizes that reflect our strength across the spectrum of workforce development: operating full-service One-Stops, sector-based initiatives, business centers, and programs that serve those on public assistance, as well as other targeted populations such as youth, justice-involved, veterans and the disabled. For more information visit: www.grantassociatesinc.com.