Office of the Governor
Contact: Jeff Caldwell
Phone: (804)
225-4260
Virginia Community
College System
Contact: Jeffrey Kraus
Phone: (804)
592-6767
Email: jkraus@vccs.edu
Virginia’s Community Colleges Seek Partners to
Connect Veterans with Good-Paying, High-Demand Jobs
~ VCCS Offers Grants to Strategically Connect Veterans
with Growing Job Sectors ~
RICHMOND — Marine
Corp veteran Dave Graf was laid off from his job in 2009, shortly after
returning from two tours of duty in Iraq as a helicopter maintainer and gunner.
He then decided to use his G.I. Bill benefits and enroll in Blue Ridge
Community College where he earned a total of four postsecondary credentials in
aviation and automotive maintenance, including two associate’s degrees – all
while maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
“It had
been a dream of mine to have the credentials to back up the skills I knew I had
as an aircraft and auto mechanic. I could do both at BRCC,” said Graf who
quickly leveraged his credentials into a good-paying career. “It seemed the
best way to maintain my lifestyle.”
Graf’s
story is not unique. And it represents the goal of a new series of grants
announced jointly by the Office of Governor Bob McDonnell and Virginia’s
Community Colleges.
Up to $1.25
million in Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Rapid Response Assistance funds are
available to build strategic partnerships aimed at connecting veterans who have
recently separated from their military service, as well as eligible military
spouses, with good-paying jobs in high-demand fields.
Speaking
about the announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “Our returning veterans have
already developed many leadership skills that employers look for. This program
holds the promise to help more veterans in Virginia translate those skills to
high-demand jobs. They have stood up for the Commonwealth and we must open the
doors of our colleges and universities to them.”
Secretary
of Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs Terrie Suit said, “As more men and
women return from bravely serving in the defense of freedom, we must do all we
can to support them in their transition. I look forward to the proposals
submitted for these competitive grants to do just that.”
Individual
grants proposals can apply for a maximum award of $250,000. Each proposal must
include a Virginia Community College; a Local Workforce Investment Board; a
local VEC Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program; and a Local Veterans’ Employment
Representative. Proposals may also include education and training providers as
well as faith-based and community based organizations.
“Community
Colleges are at their best when they can connect local people and resources to
address unmet community needs,” said Glenn DuBois, Chancellor of Virginia’s
Community Colleges. “Community colleges have focused on serving veterans since
I was a community college student. We’re proud of that legacy and eager to
build on it with these innovative grants.”
More than
823,000 veterans live in Virginia, according to statistics released last year
by the Department of Veterans Services.
Proposals
for funding will be accepted until December 19, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. The full RFP
is available on the VCCS Web site under Workforce Grants.
About Virginia’s
Community Colleges: Created more than 40 years ago, the VCCS is comprised
of 23 community colleges located on 40 campuses across the commonwealth.
Together, Virginia’s Community Colleges serve more than 400,000 students a
year. For more information please visit myfuture.vccs.edu.
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