TAMPA, Fla. – Hillsborough Community College has been awarded the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Fund by the Florida Department of Education. This grant will go towards the Rapid Credentialing Scholarship Program to help rebuild Florida’s economy from the impact of COVID-19.
“HCC is uniquely positioned to rapidly train and prepare individuals who were grievously affected by COVID-related job loss,” Dr. Ken Atwater, HCC President, said. “Our robust offering of workforce programs, allows individuals to choose from an array of in-demand careers and return to employment quickly in this dynamic work environment.”
The Rapid Credentialing Scholarship Program provides 100% scholarships that include tuition, fees and books in 30 approved areas of study. The goal is for participants to gain certifications in high-demand fields, ideally positioning them for higher wages. Based on the 2020-2021 regional demand occupations list, individuals who completed the Rapid Credentialing programs and courses are expected to earn an annual average salary of approximately $37,600 and contribute over $8 million in salary to the economic development of the Tampa Bay area.
With Hillsborough County’s unemployment rate at 15%, residents will be led to seek training and employment in a variety of business sectors such as automotive, healthcare, manufacturing and engineering, business, information technology and public safety. HCC is prepared to help mitigate the economic impact and facilitate training in new career pathways for those individuals through these programs.
In order to qualify, individuals must be unemployed, underemployed (defined as employed less than full-time or at a job inadequate based on training and educational attainment), or furloughed (or expect to be furloughed due to economic impact in the next six months). Participants must also be a resident of Hillsborough County, a U.S. citizen or resident alien and at least 18 years of age. Scholarships information can be found at https://www.hccfl.edu/paying-college/financial-aid-and- scholarships/scholarships-grants-and-work-study/scholarships. Please note that students will not be approved for a scholarship on more than one program/course, and HCC cannot guarantee employment as a result of this training.
For the full list of approved programs, review program descriptions and apply, please visit www.tampatraining.com/rapid-credentialing. For more information, please contact Gaby Delismé at gdelisme@hccfl.edu.
Hillsborough Community College serves over 48,000 students annually at its five campuses located throughout Tampa Bay. The College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information, visit hccfl.edu.