Initially designed for women, the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce’s Comeback Club helps individuals reenter the workforce after career breaks.
Labor force participation remains one of West Virginia’s most pressing economic challenges. To address this issue, organizations across the state are implementing workforce reintegration programs that expand the available talent pool. One such initiative is the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce’s Comeback Club.
Established in 2023 with grant support in 2024, the Comeback Club helps individuals confidently reenter the workforce after career breaks through resilience workshops, mentorship, job placement assistance and community support. The program initially focused on serving women, as research consistently shows that women are more likely to leave the workforce to serve as primary caregivers, but has since expanded participation to a broader base.
Inspired by the Putnam Chamber’s Network of Women, the initiative grew from recurring conversations with community members.
“We would get a decent amount of phone calls from women who had been stay-at-home moms, or caregivers to elderly parents, or just out of the workforce for a short time, inquiring if we had any jobs available,” Putnam County Chamber of Commerce President Ashley Alford Glance explained. “On the other end, we would have Chamber members here in the community tell us that they can’t find anyone to fill a position.”
After some research, the Chamber identified a barrier contributing to the disconnect.
“We noticed the people calling weren’t even getting interviews,” Alford Glance said.
Research cited by the U.S. Department of Labor supports that observation. Workers with extended employment gaps are significantly less likely to receive interview callbacks, often because automated applicant tracking systems filter them out.
“Employers, through no fault of their own, are trying to get people hired quickly, and they’re utilizing technology to streamline the hiring process,” Alford Glance explained. “Yet a lot of the time, they aren’t even meeting people who could be qualified, or have potential, because they’re not even seeing their résumés.”
The Comeback Club was created to bridge that gap.
“The Comeback Club envisions a future where women who have taken career breaks can seamlessly reintegrate into the workforce,” Alford Glance said. “By providing the necessary resources, guidance and support, the project aims to significantly reduce the gender gap in employment and leadership positions.”
Participants register through the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce’s website, complete an orientation and work with staff to develop a personalized plan for reentering the workforce.
“We’re still growing,” Alford Glance said. “We’ve only had funding for a little over a year. We are grateful to our funders for seeing the vision of this program: the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, Toyota and American Water Foundation.”
While the Comeback Club was initially funded to support women returning to work, more recent grants have expanded the program’s reach to include both women and men seeking workforce reintegration.
Through partnerships with organizations such as the Putnam Adult Education Center, Marshall CORE, Dress for Success, Jobs and Hope and Workforce Region II, the Comeback Club offers participants access to career-resilience workshops covering résumé development, interview preparation, confidence-building and essential computer skills.
Confidence-building exercises are a core component, Alford Glance said.
“If someone hasn’t been in the workforce in a long time, and they’re nervous and having a hard time building themselves up, we’ll assist with that,” she said, noting that women often must work longer than men to demonstrate they’ve maintained the same level of competence they had before stepping away. “We have found that when a woman leaves the workforce, it takes longer for her to build back up to the level of experience she had when she left than for her male counterparts.”
Mentorship also plays a critical role in helping participants successfully navigate their return to work.
“When someone comes through the Comeback Club, we talk with them about their goals and match them with a mentor working in the same or a similar industry,” Alford Glance said. “That gives participants someone they can check in with, ask questions and receive support from over time.”
Participants are also encouraged to attend Chamber networking events where they can make connections, potentially opening the door to job opportunities.
While the program emphasizes long-term career pathways, it also recognizes that some participants need immediate employment. The Chamber works with partner organizations and member businesses — including staffing and employment agencies — to connect participants with
opportunities that fit their career goals, skill sets and timelines. The Chamber also regularly shares job openings with its members and leverages its network to support Comeback Club participants in their job search.
The Comeback Club has been well received by both participants and employers, with placements spanning a wide range of roles and industries.
“We’ve had some great successes, and not only in entry-level positions, but in leadership roles as well,” Alford Glance said. “Employers are really eager to participate, and they’re very helpful when we send résumés along.”
Looking ahead, the Chamber is working to expand the program’s reach.
“We know there are people out there who are struggling to find work,” Alford Glance said. “We want to be the support system that helps them navigate returning to the workforce.”
More information is available at putnamchamber.org/comeback-club.
Dawn Nolan is a freelance writer living in Huntington, West Virginia.