Mike Wheeler says fear and uncertainty have plagued him since he was laid off as a trucking terminal manager two weeks ago.

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On Wednesday, however, the husband and father of two was looking for help at Augusta's One-Stop Career Center -- a government labor center designed to help.

"Up until six months ago, I never thought this would be a problem. It's been stressful," he said. "If push comes to shove, I'll flip burgers if I have to."

Mr. Wheeler is one of 445,498 Georgians currently unemployed, labor officials say. The Augusta man and thousands of others will benefit from training and employment opportunities available through stimulus funds.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -- the much-discussed federal stimulus plan -- will dispense $88 million for youth job positions, job training and other resources offered at One-Stop Career centers across the state, said Linda Johnson, assistant commissioner of career development for the Georgia Department of Labor.

Within weeks, more than $2 million will be distributed to Richmond and Burke counties to replenish the workforce with youth and dislocated workers, said Al Chandler, deputy director of the Richmond/Burke Job Training Authority.

More than $1 million will go toward employment opportunities for workers ages 14 to 24.

Close to $100,000 will be dispensed for training, job search assistance and other services for dislocated workers.

Another $500,000 will go to the unemployed, who were not laid off, for similar services, Mr. Chandler said.

All of the funds must be spent within two years.

Job positions will be created for youth workers at government buildings such as libraries, Ms. Johnson said. Youth in Richmond and Burke counties will have more job options through the annual summer youth employment program for youth ages 14 to 24.

"Because of the focus on the dislocated workers, the opportunities that youth would normally have are not available," Ms. Johnson said. "Adults are vying for those same positions."

The One-Stop Career centers have assisted adult and dislocated workers since 2000 across the nation, Ms. Johnson said.

They came from legislation introduced to enhance training opportunities for the unemployed. The new federal stimulus funds are expected to improve the workforce investment system.

"We have always had the training opportunities, but now there will be more resources available to pay for their training," Ms. Johnson said. "We'll also have more staff to assess the needs at our centers."

The One-Stop Career centers will also provide clients with information on health insurance, utilities assistance and child-care benefits.

Patricia Whisenhunt, a part-time employee at Augusta's One-Stop Career Center, said the resources are much needed. Last July, she was laid off from her job as a legal assistant. Two months ago, she was hired as a One-Stop customer service representative.

"I can relate to the people I see come in here every day," she said. "They're angry and in tears. They need jobs."

The job training and resources funded by the federal stimulus money could lead to more jobs for the more than 8,000 unemployed in Richmond County, Mr. Chandler said.

"We hope the people we train can get back into the workforce as soon as possible," he said. "It's going to be a help to all us."

Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.