Cherokee County will benefit from a $650,000 grant designed to help out-of-school youths become better prepared for the job market.

The Cherokee County adult education program has participated since 2008 in a Workforce Investment Act grant that serves students between the ages of 16 and 21. The Upstate Workforce Investment Board recently awarded a $650,000 grant for the private company Henkels & McCoy to serve 140 young adults in Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties.

Henkels & McCoy partners with adult education systems to provide counseling, job placement and work experiences for young adults. These services are provided through the company’s Palmetto Youth Connections program.

“The focus is to serve youth who are most in need and who possess significant barriers preventing them from attaining educational and employment success,” said Sharon Emory of the Upstate Workforce Investment Board. “Individuals must have a high school diploma or GED and post secondary education in order to perform the duties required of the skilled jobs in our area and for the jobs of the future. It is imperative for economic development that we have an educated workforce in the Upstate.”

The pool of students for the Palmetto Youth Connections program comes from current adult education students, high school dropouts and advertising for qualified applicants.

Cherokee County Adult Education Director Lisa Hannon said the program’s grant includes money to assist students with transportation costs and the payment of fees for taking the GED exam to earn a high school equivalency diploma.

A job coach guides the students through the process of earning their high school credentials, continuing with their education or applying for a job, Hannon said.

The program offers job training, college placement assistance, basic computer instruction, and paid internships.