CLIFTON FORGE — Gov. Ralph Northam has announced that Virginia is allocating $30 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars to help Virginians whose employment has been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis pursue workforce training in a high-demand field.
The new Re-Employing Virginians (REV) initiative will provide scholarships to eligible individuals to enroll in a workforce or community college program
in five essential industries, including health care, information technology, skilled trades, public safety, and early childhood education.
Dabney S. Lancaster Community College is among the recipients for the scholarship funds. The deadline to apply and enroll at DSLCC for REV funding is Dec. 10.
“This program is a wonderful opportunity for individuals in our area to get retrained into a high demand program and earn an industry recognized credential,” said Dr. John Rainone, DSLCC president. “We thank the governor for his support of our workforce and of our community colleges.”
“Virginians who have been furloughed, had hours reduced, or lost a job because of the pandemic are struggling and wondering what the future holds,” said Northam. “Investing in programs that help people develop skills in high-demand fields is a win for workers, employers, and our economy.
“As we focus on recovering from the impacts of the global pandemic, the new REV initiative will give Virginians the resources they need to get back on their feet and help ensure that our commonwealth emerges from this public health crisis even stronger than we were before,” Northam added.
The initiative will provide one-time REV scholarships of up to $3,000 for students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours. Students enrolled part-time (less than 12 credits) in career training degree programs or in a short-term workforce training program, can receive up to $1,500.
“If you have lost your job, or seen a reduction in your hours and paycheck, Virginia’s community colleges want to help you,” said Glenn DuBois, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System.
“The REV initiative offers you another way into the short-term credential and degree programs that prepare you for a high-demand career,” DuBois added. “These opportunities will be more affordable than ever before thanks to these grants, and we look forward to helping individuals and families who want to move forward, beyond the unexpected challenges posed by the pandemic.”
Interested individuals need to apply and enroll by the Dec. 10 enrollment deadline. Workforce training programs are starting now and the spring semester starts Jan. 19.
Information about eligibility criteria and applying for a REV scholarship is available online at www.vccs.edu/rev or contact DSLCC directly at (540) 863-2820.
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Information Systems Technology at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College is one of the workforce programs eligible for funding through a new initiative, Re-Employing Virginians (REV) announced recently by Gov. Ralph Northam. Information about eligibility criteria and applying for a REV scholarship is available online at www.vccs.edu/rev or contact DSLCC directly at (540) 863-2820. Interested individuals need to apply and enroll by the Dec. 10 enrollment deadline. Above is Rebecca Stover, DSLCC scholarship coordinator. (DSLCC Photo)
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