(The Center Square) – Gov. Katie Hobbs on Thursday announced the Arizona Community College Workforce Scholarship Program.
The scholarship program will begin by using $4.5 million in federal taxpayer dollars from the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools program, according to a news release. The release added that it is meant to help an estimated 9-10,000 students get the proper training in fields such as manufacturing, education, construction, aerospace, healthcare and several other fields based on what a community college’s area needs. Nine colleges, as well as the Maricopa Community Colleges system, will take part in the program.
“More Arizonans are working today than ever before in the state’s history and yet we are still facing growing demand for even more trained and certified workers,” Office of Economic Opportunity Cabinet Executive Officer Carlos Contreras said in a statement. “We are grateful to Arizona’s community colleges continuing to find innovative ways to build the workforce and support Arizonans interested in gaining the skills needed for many of the in-demand, high-wage, high growth industries – from cybersecurity to advanced manufacturing.”
In a media availability at GateWay Community College, Hobbs addressed how students would get connected with employment.
“These community colleges are directly connected with industry and that’s why this program makes so much sense, because they are building the pipeline of these workers for the employers in their communities. And so this just makes a lot of sense,” Hobbs said.
Growing the crop of trade workers in Arizona is considered a critical issue, as a Newmark report says that the Phoenix Metropolitan Area is top location for manufacturing growth, but workforce development concerns are looming over new projects.
Overall, the state continues to experience job growth but is making numerous efforts, ranging from the scholarship program to semiconductor apprenticeships, to make sure that locals are taking up the new jobs available, The Center Square reported.
