SAVANNAH — United Way of the Coastal Empire recently announced it selected Savannah Technical College as a strategic-initiative partner for economic independence with a grant for $290,000.
According to a news release, the goal of the grant is to build career paths that provide career advancement opportunities for lower-skilled workers and job-seekers to obtain family supporting wages.
“We appreciate the United Way’s support of our workforce development programs and applaud its visionary support of economic independence,” STC President Dr. Kathy Love said.
“We know that those without a high-school diploma have challenges securing meaningful employment. This program will provide a combination of GED-preparation classes and training that will put these students on the path to self-sufficiency. Their success will create a ripple effect throughout our communities.”
After workshops with UWCE partners and stakeholders throughout the spring and summer of 2013, the focus of the strategic initiative turned to the area of economic independence.
UWCE invited funding proposals for a multifaceted strategy effective in connecting individuals to employment with self-sustaining wages. The UWCE Vision Council received 12 submissions, and the Accelerating Opportunity program of STC stood apart as an innovative approach to creating career opportunities, while augmenting UWCE investments in other services across our community.
Accelerating Opportunity employs an evidence-based, nationally recognized best-practice approach to career training that focuses on linking training, basic-skills education and credentialing to high-demand jobs that provide adults a path to a family sustaining wage ($12/hour with benefits, $15/hour without benefits).
Traditionally, students must possess a high school/GED prior to enrolling in courses that lead to a degree or certificate. Through Accelerating Opportunity, students will be enrolled in GED-prep classes, while accelerating their training for work.
The collaboratively taught classes integrate basic skills with practical, occupational training that build toward degrees and/or certificates. Students will work with a career navigator who will help them succeed in the program, overcome obstacles, and ultimately graduate with the credentials.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a person with a high-school or GED credential earns $10,000 more annually than a non-high-school graduate.
For more information about Accelerating Opportunity, call  912-443-5352 or email bstubbs@savannahtech.edu.