“This wouldn’t have happened without a tremendous amount of teamwork,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “The business community has been a large part of this as well knowing that we need to train a large workforce. This is a win-win. It’s a win for our community colleges, our businesses and for the Commonwealth.”
Community colleges are a stabilizer for Virginia workers and businesses as they fight through these chaotic times. As the commonwealth seeks to develop talent and fill high-demand occupations, the G3 program has the right kind of support mechanisms in place to create progress.
It’s a limited-time offer, and Virginians are wasting no time signing up for a new grants program that would pay for targeted workforce training courses at community colleges across the commonwealth
The Governor’s “Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back” initiative, or “G3” program, will provide financial support to cover tuition, fees, and books for eligible students at the Commonwealth’s two-year public institutions.
“For the most part, parents seem to encourage their children to pursue prestigious positions that they also perceive to be the highest paying, including engineers and scientists, according to the presentation. They seem to discourage their children from becoming welders or electricians.”
VCCS Chancellor Glenn DuBois traveled to Capitol Hill in Washington to urge a Congressional panel to make Pell Grants available to students enrolled in workforce training programs, like those offered by the VCCS FastForward program.
When asked about their motivation to pursue a certification, student responses ranged from a longing to help people in their community to seeking advancement opportunities within health sciences or military career fields.
“We’re thrilled that the legislature continues to recognize the value of this investment in the commonwealth’s future,” said DuBois. “FastForward not only helps Virginians train for family-supporting careers, it also helps Virginia employers secure the skilled workers they need for our 21st century economy. Everybody benefits when we have a more skilled workforce.”
Several of Virginia’s Community Colleges have earned high marks in the 2019 ranking by Military Friendly, an annual survey conducted by Pittsburgh, Pa.-based VIQTORY, which describes itself as a military marketing company that connects the military community to civilian opportunity.
This program provides multi-disciplinary training in the areas of electronics, electricity, mechanics, programming, shop skills, technical report writing, and affords students the chance to earn several manufacturing industry-recognized certifications.