(Marietta, Ga. – Aug. 9, 2013) A new grant approved in Georgia’s 2013 Legislative Session will now be an option for qualified students at Chattahoochee Technical College. Under Georgia’s Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant Award, Chattahoochee Technical College students who are receiving the HOPE Grant may also be eligible for additional financial assistance for the Commercial Truck Driving, Early Childhood Care/Education and Practical Nursing programs.
“Students don’t have to do anything extra to apply for this grant as long as they are enrolled in an eligible program and receiving HOPE Grant, they’ll receive this grant,” explained Student Financial Services Executive Director Jody Darby. “We hope this will help students defray some of the costs of these programs and together with the changes to the HOPE Grant’s grade point average requirement make a college education more accessible to the future workforce.
Beginning this fall, when they are qualifying for the HOPE Grant, students can simultaneously qualify for the Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant Award. There is no application for the grant and students who are enrolled in one of those three diploma or certificate programs will automatically be screened for the financial package.
The grant provides funding for students in these high-demand careers in Georgia. Students in the Commercial Truck Driving program at the college’s North Metro Campus could qualify for a one-time grant of $1,000. The typical cost for the 8-week program is currently $1,576 for in-state students, plus the cost of books. With both HOPE Grant and the SIWDG funds, a student would only be required to a fraction of that amount.
Students enrolled in the diploma Early Childhood Care and Education program could be eligible to receive between $250 and $500 each term. The program, which is taught online and at multiple campuses, prepares students to work in Georgia’s child care center or Pre-K program.
Students pursuing a diploma in the Practical Nursing Program could also be eligible to receive between $250 and $500 each term. In just one year, practical nursing students complete 685 hours in the classroom and 485 hours of clinical experience. They learn nursing fundamentals, leadership basics and are exposed to medical/surgical, obstetrics, labor and delivery, pediatric and mental health specialties. The program classes are offered at the North Metro Campus in Acworth.
“This is a great policy initiative from the Governor and General Assembly,” said Chattahoochee Technical College President Dr. Ron Newcomb. “This will incentivize enrollment into needed areas and better develop this community and Georgia’s workforce for the future.”
For more information on the new grant visit www.tcsghopeinfo.com/docs/Strategic_Ind_Workforce_Dev_Grant.pdf. For more information on programs of study, admissions and financial aid information at Chattahoochee Technical College visit www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu or call 770-528-4545.