CARES Funds Support Nearly Half-Million Dollar TCC Rapid Credentialing Program

October 9, 2020

TCC logoThe TCC2WORK Be Essential program has received an additional boost in funding from the Florida Department of Education (DOE) to continue addressing retraining needs for local residents who have been impacted by COVID-19. Tallahassee Community College is pleased to announce that it has received $374,014 through a Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Rapid Credentialing grant to provide unemployed, underemployed or furloughed workers with training in in-demand areas of the regional workforce. The College is also directing $93,503 in CARES Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds toward the nearly half-million-dollar project.

The recently launched TCC2WORK Be Essential campaign addresses rising unemployment, as the Tallahassee area has reported having nearly 10,000 unemployed, and helps those who have been impacted gain the skills they need to be marketable in record time. The DOE awarded TCC with a Rapid Credentialing Grant that provides eligible applicants with scholarships and allows TCC to expand its 90 days or less menu of TCC2WORK career training programs. 

There are many TCC2WORK Be Essential programs that individuals can choose from including, Correctional Officer, Cybersecurity, Drones, Early Childhood Education, EMT, Law Enforcement, Nurse Assistant, Commercial Vehicle Driving and more. For those impacted, these jobs will likely pay more and offer benefits in comparison to from which they were suddenly furloughed or displaced from altogether. 

“We are pleased to have been awarded the Rapid Credentialing Grant in these unprecedented times to help our community have access to job training programs now,” said Kim Moore, Vice President for Workforce Innovation and TCC2WORK/Be Essential. “TCC has the programs in place to provide individuals with access to gain new skills that will place them on a career path while contributing to the future success of local businesses in need of a skilled workforce.” 

“The College is excited about receiving these funds to support our efforts in assisting individuals who are unemployed due to the COVID-19 crisis,” said TCC President Jim Murdaugh. “It is critical that the members of our community are able to get the retraining they need to gain essential skills that get them back in the workforce. This grant will help us ensure each participant can be competitive in the labor market in a matter of weeks or months.”  

The funds will also allow TCC to launch the first of its kind community reemployment plan. The reemployment plan led by the TCC Division of Workforce Development and supported by many community partners ranging from nonprofits, local businesses and the chamber and economic development groups that make-up the region. The community reemployment plan was created in collaboration with partners across the region and nation to assist local nonprofits overwhelmed with providing services to the newly unemployed resident.

The TCC2WORK initiative also supports Gov. DeSantis’ Get There Florida Workforce Education Campaign. The College’s 70-plus workforce-focused programs are dedicated to employing people in our service area and beyond. All trainings are tasked with targeting careers that can be earned through short-term, in-demand career and technical education programs.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order urges Florida to increase its rank in the nation for its workforce and technical training programs by 2030. TCC has trained over 160,000 people.

Local employers who are interested in participating in the TCC2WORK Be Essential program can contact TCC 1-833-TCC-JOBS or at tcc2work@tcc.fl.edu.

Local residents interested in learning more about the 90 days or less training opportunities can call 1-833-TCC-JOBS. Those interested can register in the October Express session that begins on October 20. Class offerings can be found at www.tcc.fl.edu/ExpressSessions.