Funding roundup

A $20,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation will help more students access manufacturing technology programs at College of DuPage. (Photo: COD)

College of DuPage in Illinois can increase access to its manufacturing technology program thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation. The funds will help cover the tuition and fees for qualifying students.

“This, along with several other scholarships, demonstrates the need for skilled people in manufacturing, and what companies are willing to do to attract them to the manufacturing program at College of DuPage,” said Jim Filipek, a manufacturing technology professor.

California

San Diego Miramar College will receive two grants totaling $350,000. The first is a renewal of a $200,000 Deputy Sector Navigator grant, which will allow the college to continue supporting a staff member in advanced transportation and logistics. The position helps to coordinate and collaborate regionally to develop sector partnerships and align training programs with employers and other local stakeholders.

Miramar also will receive a $150,000 grant to fund the college’s hiring of a job placement coordinator to maintain and improve post-graduation employment outcomes.

Florida

Indian River State College (IRSC) has received $1.53 million grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. IRSC plans to expand its model of workforce training and industry partnerships into a new aviation and marine training program to meet the growing workforce needs of the two industries.

The new program will enable IRSC to train up to 140 workers each year.

Georgia

Georgia Piedmont Technical College students will get some much-needed relief thanks to a $50,000 grant from The Merancas Foundation to help students who are having difficulty paying for books, tuition or daily living expenses.

Since 2013, foundation has contributed more than $140,000 in financial resources for Georgia Piedmont students. More than 250 students have received Merancas funds to offset hardships.

“Often times, just a small amount of money can make a big difference in a student’s ability to continue his or her education. Large contributions such as these help us build momentum for future gifts as well,” said Cory Thompson, executive director of marketing and communications and liaison to the foundation board of trustees at Georgia Piedmont.

Maryland

Hagerstown Community College received a $50,000 donation from Anton Mayer and his business partner John Schaffer. The donation was made in memory of Anton’s wife, Lindette Mayer, who died after a battle with cancer in October. She was a graduate of Hagerstown Junior College, loved education and had a great career start at the college as a professor in political science. The donation funds the Dr. Lindette Mayer Memorial Scholarship, which will help education or nursing majors.

“Lindette was a very passionate professor, guidance counselor and vocational expert who helped many young people become successful in life,” Mayer said.

Massachusetts

Holyoke Community College (HCC) is the lead partner in a project that will bring $1.6 million in federal grant money to the region to train community health workers in the fight against opioid addiction. HCC received $400,000 for the project from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration and will add as many as 36 seats per year to its community health worker program. Students in the program also will receive instruction and training in addiction and substance abuse disorders.

HCC’s three regional partners – Holyoke Health Center, Community Health Center of Franklin County and the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services – will each receive $400,000 grants to support on-site practical training of those students.

“This is a really big deal,” Rebecca Lewis, chair of the college’s foundations of health program, said in a release. “Each of the health centers is getting a huge award. Part of why we got this is because we took a regional approach.”

The first cohort will begin in spring 2019.

Mississippi

Itawamba Community College has received a $746,100 grant for its Incentives to Success Career Navigation project from Families First for Mississippi. The project’s goal is to encourage and motivate at-risk participants to succeed in completing a career pathway and finding gainful employment.

Among the services are education and certification for in-demand careers, support services, career interest and exploration links to education pathways, career navigation, coaching to employment and employment assistance. Participants also will have an opportunity to develop soft skills, such as resume development and personal branding.

New York

Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) will use a two-year,$227,267 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a new undergraduate summer research program studying plant products, beginning next summer. The grant is part of the NSF’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, which supports research participation by undergraduate students.

Students will receive financial assistance to work one-on-one with mentors doing hands-on, research-driven projects. The aim of the project is to analyze the bioactivity of natural plant products at different levels of biological organization.

Virginia

John Tyler Community College and Altria Group have formed a public-private partnership that comes with a $1.33 million grant from Altria. The funding will help to expand the college’s industrial electricity and mechanical maintenance programs, which offer students the option of earning a career studies certificate in a year or less, an associate degree or both.

“Skilled tradespeople like electrical technicians are highly sought-after in Virginia and nationally, including at Philip Morris USA. This investment will enable more people, including those seeking new career opportunities, to get the skills and credentials they need to fill these in-demand jobs,” said Sheila Freeman, vice president manufacturing, Philip Morris USA, an Altria company.

About the Author

Tabitha Whissemore
Tabitha Whissemore is a contributor to Community College Daily and managing editor of AACC's Community College Journal.
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