Fully Capitalizing on Work Opportunity Tax Credits for felons.
Virginia has come a long way regarding creating awareness to business
owners and employees that the federal work opportunity tax credit
also targets certain felons. However, there still remain significant gray areas pertinent
to maximizing this viable incentive to help formerly incarcerated
persons transition from incarceration to meaningful employment.
For example, the average businessperson is not even aware that
it is their business which receives the $2,400 incentive, [and that it has no maximum cap on the number of hires], or that the former offender only has 365 days from date of their release
to tap into this potential. Also very noteworthy is the fact that not all felons qualify. It is of the utmost importance that Virginia employers fully understand
they cannot take advantage of this tax credit after the individual has been hired.
When OTWR executive director, Reverend Claude Gunn first began
his efforts several years ago to create statewide awareness of
felons' right to participate in WOTC, he was appalled to discover
that the vast majority of legislators and (more importantly) the three major organizations entrusted with
oversight and implementation were not even aware that felons qualified.
The three organizations are the Virginia Employment Commission, the Department of Social Services and Workforce Investment Board.
When you consider that the two major hurdles a formerly incarcerated
person faces upon release are housing and jobs, it even more important that we leverage every known incentive
for this disadvantaged group to gain employment. Also, by maximizing
this latent potential to provide employment opportunities, we
assist formerly incarcerated persons circumvent the much dreaded
question on job application forms, "have you ever been convicted of a felony?"
Again, we’ve come a long way but we’ve yet a long way to go.
For information on seminars or workshops in your area:
Call Reverend Claude Gunn at (434) 528-0435
or email gunn52@verizon.net