Governor Edwards is expected to soon sign legislation that would provide grants to low and middle-income workers 21 and older who want to go to a community or technical college.
Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Monty Sullivan called the grants “TOPS for grown folks” who want to go into one of five high-demand, high pay fields. Degree fields or certifications in healthcare, construction, logistics, manufacturing, and IT are eligible.
“Those are broad ranges of industry sectors, but industries that we know are hiring,” said Sullivan. “Sectors that we know when an individual finishes that training and education there will be jobs waiting for them.”
Only those making 300 percent or less over the federal poverty line, or about 38,000 dollars a year, are eligible. Individuals who meet the income, age, and career field requirements can be awarded up to 3,200 dollars a year and 6,400 dollars total.
“We believe that this is an amount that will give folks the chance to not have to come out of pocket particularly when you consider the other funding that is available through federal Pell Grants and the like,” said Sullivan who added recipients can use the grants on a range of programs from full two-year nursing degrees to multi-week industrial certification programs.
The grants will cost the state 10.5 million dollars a year and Sullivan expects they’ll spend every dollar of it, and hopefully be able to expand the program in the future.
“There are 1.1 million working-age adults in this state who have a high school diploma or less. They need the training and education that takes place at our colleges,” said Sullivan. “The MJ Foster (named after former Governor Mike Foster) Promise program will give them that opportunity.”
Once signed into law the grants will begin in the summer of 2022.
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