State Workforce Team Launches Scholarship and Grant Program to Strengthen Skilled Trade Workforce

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Thursday, March 31st, 2016

The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Workforce division announced today the launch of a grant and scholarship program designed to strengthen Georgia’s skilled-trade workforce through it’s Go Build Georgia program.

Go Build Georgia and the Go Build Georgia Foundation have partnered with the Career, Technical and Agricultural Education Division of the Georgia Department of Education to award Go Build Georgia Grants to GDOE middle and high school institutions for GBG-aligned special activities. Grants, up to $500 each, will be awarded to applying Georgia middle and high schools throughout each fiscal year.

The Go Build Georgia High Demand Career Scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school seniors entering a Technical College System of Georgia institution in a field of study that leads to a skilled-trade career. These $1,000 scholarships are made available by a collaborative partnership between Go Build Georgia, the GBG Foundation and TCSG. Go Build Georgia High Demand Career Scholarships can be used to cover tuition, requisite fees and materials.

“We continue to hear from companies about the demand for educated, well-trained talent within Georgia’s rapidly-growing skilled trade industries,” said Ben Hames, Deputy Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Workforce division. “By offering grants to middle and high school institutions as well as scholarships to students within our technical college system, we are taking the necessary steps in developing a first-class workforce to respond to those urgent business needs.”