After losing his job during the pandemic, Delvoan Jordan is hoping to start a new career.

"I was just trying to find something different to do with my life and with my time.” said Jordan.

Jordan attempted to seize new opportunity by attending a job fair at the Booker T. Washington Center.

"I just wanted to check it out see what opportunity they have to give us,” said Jordan. “A lot of people in the inner-city really don't have the resources to get to, or have the access for certain things, so to bring it to the Booker T. that's a good thing."

The inner-city job fair is part of the African American Concerned Clergy's new initiative called Get Erie Back to Work.

The program helps connect local employers with new workers.

Organizations like the Barber National Institute are also offering hiring incentives for new employees.

"For our residential positions that are available, there's a $750.00 sign on bonus,” said Barber National Institute recruitment specialist Keith Featsent. “Starting wages are $13.25 an hour, so we like to believe that helps encourage folks to apply.”

This story is supported by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.