The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the First Coast Technical College, Goodwill Industries of North Florida and the Florida Prepaid College Foundation to promote awareness and accessibility of the new Get There, a new workforce education initiative aimed at raising awareness and availability of short-term, but high-value, career and technical education programs.
St. Johns County’s plan is the first in the state to roll out and assist low-income students to enroll in rapid credentialing programs at First Coast Technical College. Students in grades K-12 will be exposed to career opportunities through year-round workshops held at First Coast Technical College. Upon high school graduation, participating low-income students will be eligible to apply for the Get There Faster Scholarship, a one-year Florida Prepaid College Foundation Plan. The approximate $3,600 plan’s value will cover most, if not all, of the tuition costs for workforce certification programs.
“The Get There initiative provides additional power for our students,” said Chris Force, principal, First Coast Technical College. “Rapid credentialing programs increase our capacity to enroll and graduate students in short term, in-demand, high wage occupation workforce programs.”
“As an employer, I commend this collaboration. The graduates will allow us to sustain and grow our business,” said Wayne Robison, owner, Rulon International, and host of a May reception to introduce the program.
Orv Dothage, senior manager, Northrop Grumman, added that the programs at First Coast Technical College graduate many qualified workers for the manufacturing industry in St. Johns and surrounding counties.
“We hire our entry level mechanics from FCTC’s airframe program for our facility at the St. Augustine Airport,” said Dothage.
Both Isabelle Renault, president and CEO, St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, and Leah Lynch, Goodwill, praised Get There for accelerating recovery for our economy.
“These rapid credentialing programs will increase capacity at FCTC so students can enroll and graduate on an accelerated basis,” said Renault. “In addition, it is important to mention that these programs align with our targeted industries for St. Johns County.”
“Programs include advanced manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare, public safety and information technology,” added Lynch. “This program validates that Career and Technical Education (CTE) is an engine for economic recovery and prosperity and removes additional barriers to employment.”
The Get There program is partially funded by a Florida Prepaid scholarship program. Additional funding is needed from employers to continue the availability of this program in our community. Every donation to help a student attend First Coast Technical College will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.
For more information on joining the employers who have already donated to this program, contact Arleen Dennison, college advancement coordinator, First Coast Technical College at (904) 547-3386 or Arleen.Dennison@fctc.edu. To donate directly, go to www.goodwilljax.org.
For additional information about the credentialing programs at First Coast Technical College or the Get There program, go to www.fctc.edu, www.goodwilljax.org or www.GetThereFL.com.
