Savannah Technical College has been awarded a $3,965,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The “Pathway Home” grant will assist individuals now or once involved in the criminal justice system to secure employment in their communities by assisting access to education, career training and apprenticeships.

The grant will support expanded services to eligible, incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities or local jails prior- and post-release to help eliminate the gap between release and enrollment into a reentry training program leading to employment.

“Our goal is to prepare returning citizens with career training to earn a family-sustaining wage through technical education that leads to industry-recognized credentials in welding, logistics and manufacturing,” said STC President Dr. Kathy S. Love. “In many cases, people leave jails and prisons without the skills needed for a high demand career. This grant was written to create a new pipeline of skilled talent for our industry partners and to create hope for our returning citizens. It also recognizes the years of partnership building and work done at the college on behalf our returning citizens.” 

The College will serve a total of 250 returning citizens per year exiting Coastal State Prison and Chatham County Detention Center. STC’s Economic Development division will oversee the grant and will offer a two-week program to help participants get acclimated to the educational arena and assess their readiness for employment through pre/post assessments.

The Coastal Workforce Development Board has identified manufacturing and logistics as two of the in-demand industries for the region. Participants will begin fast-track training for logistics, warehousing or welding to earn recognized credentials within the last six months of their sentence. A combination of virtual reality and hands-on training will be included. Job placement and financial literacy education will be included along with continued follow-up for one year after training.

Savannah Technical College serves Coastal Georgia with quality, market-driven technical education with campus locations in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties. Serving more than 10,000 credit and non-credit students annually, Savannah Tech offers nearly 150 different instructional programs in Aviation Technology, Business and Professional Services, Industrial Technology, and Health Sciences in addition to Adult Education classes, industry-specific training, and continuing education. The College serves as an economic and community development partner for the region, offering corporate and customized training and assessment programs for business and industry.

Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas, and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of the College may be directed in writing to the SACSCOC at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404.679.4500, or by visiting www.sacscoc.org.