Florida Workforce Development Board has approved Southwest Florida College, as a training provider, making federal stimulus tuition support funds available to qualified students.
“Workforce Development has been given a substantial amount of money to be used for workforce training as part of a larger effort to tackle the unemployment situation,” said Dr. Stephen Calabro, executive vice president at Southwest Florida College, an accredited, non-profit career college with four area campuses. Depending upon applicant’s eligibility factors and their need, students can receive significant funds for tuition support. Funds are readily available to those who are eligible on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Finding a job often means learning new skills, and mastering those skills often means a trip back to school, where advanced education and professional development can be costly. Some of that expense can be defrayed with student loans – and now with additional help from federal economic-stimulus funds.
Last month, Gov. Charlie Crist announced the release of “$165 million in federal economic stimulus founds to local workforce boards for additional job placement and job training for the people of Florida.” Crist stated that the funds would help by providing workforce training for unemployed Floridians and would also help businesses by improving their worker’s skills.
“These federal stimulus funds will be dedicated to a wide variety of training and job placement services,” said Agency for Workforce Innovation Interim Director Cynthia Lorenzo. “One of our aims is to assist Floridians at One-Stop Career Centers around the state.”
“The impact of taking advantage of all funding opportunities available to a student from the community is significant,” said Lauren Thompson, assistant director of Financial Aid Processing at SWFC. “It allows a student to reduce their overall student loan debt, while possibly opening the door to future opportunities and networks.”
Southwest Florida College has a number of short-term programs for careers in high-demand fields. The Workforce Development money, combined with other resources, can substantially reduce the cost of education for qualified applicants.
“Our participation with Workforce Development provides a wonderful opportunity for students to acquire new job skills or improve upon existing skills while they are working towards a diploma or a degree,” said Calabro.
Individuals interested in receiving training through the college’s affiliation with the Florida Workforce Development Board should call 888-526-7973 to schedule a time to meet with an admissions representative at a Southwest Florida College campus. They may also visit their local Workforce Development office as soon as possible.
Southwest Florida College has campuses in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Estero with the Institute of Interior Design located within the International Design Center.
Southwest Florida College is an accredited private, nonprofit institution that has been providing post secondary education to Floridians since 1974. Its mission is providing the education that enables its graduates to pursue successful careers and lead enriched lives. For more information, call toll free 888-526-7973 or visit www.swfc.edu