This Kansas City program could pay for you to get trained and certified for a new career
After high school, Corrie Ruth spent a year at Missouri Southern University studying business management before he realized that it wasn’t the right path for him. He left school in pursuit of a career that could be a better fit and tried everything from construction to being a technician for Spectrum.
Ruth first thought he’d be an electrician, but as his interests evolved, he realized he wanted to explore information technology to become an IT administrator or a cyber security analyst.
A little over a month ago, he decided to go all in on the idea and signed up for Great Jobs KC, a new initiative from local education nonprofit KC Scholars that supports adults looking to continue their education.
“It was an easy way for me to get into the career I wanted, which was in IT. So I just took the opportunity,” Ruth said.
What is Great Jobs KC?
Great Jobs KC awards scholarships to people looking to earn certificates and training so they can enter fields with high demands for workers such as health care, construction, IT and manufacturing.
“There are amazing jobs in the world that you don’t have to have a college degree for, that do have a positive career path and a journey for your future,” said KC Scholars Executive Vice President Angie Besendorfer.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs like home health aids, computer and information system managers, heavy truck drivers and medical assistants will be among jobs with the most job growth within the next 10 years.
The program prioritizes short term credentials that can prepare adults for jobs starting at at least $45,000 to $85,000 annually. In addition to covering tuition for the certification and training, Great Jobs KC also offers participants a mentor, also called a scholar advocate, and other services like child care, transportation and financial literacy as needed.
Now, Ruth is three weeks into a 12-week IT certification course with MedCerts, an online health care and IT training program fully paid for by Great Jobs KC. By April, Ruth will be prepared to apply for jobs in his field.
He is one of 500 people to enroll in GreatJobs KC in the first four months of the program’s existence. The program launched in the fall with the help of a $50 million grant from the Kauffman Foundation.
Training programs at local colleges and institutions are vetted based on things like their completion rate and the likelihood that students will be employed in their field after graduation.
“So there will be programs that might be at Johnson County Community College, but not all programs are approved,” Besendorfer said.
Ruth found out about Great Jobs KC from his longtime friend Andre Forbes Jr. Forbes Jr. is pursuing the same certificate with MedCerts. Since enrolling, he has recommended the program to his family, friends and even his fiance. Ruth said within a day of learning about the opportunity, he went online to sign up.
Who qualifies for the program?
Anyone 17 years old or older with a high school diploma or G.E.D. is eligible for the program. The program targets low and moderate income families, so anyone 20 years or older will need to make $45,000 a year or less to qualify. For people that are 20 years or younger, parent and household income will be considered instead.
The program has the capacity to enroll thousands of students at a time. As more students join the program, KC Scholars will continue to recieve funding from the Kauffman Foundation to expand, according to KC Scholars spokesperson Deekay Fox.
How to sign up for Great Jobs KC?
Signing up for the program is simple.
First, prospective scholars should fill out an online form to create a profile.
“It’s just basic stuff, your name, age, name, age, and what do you want to do? What are you looking to get into?” Ruth said. “I did that and about a week later, I got a phone call from somebody who found the program.”
The form is not really an application, according to Besendorfer because everyone is considered for the program, and KC Scholars staff will do their best to connect candidates to the best program for them.
After the profile is set up, a staff member will call and discuss the person’s goals and circumstances.
“The reason we do that is because not everybody’s story fits beautifully in a little form. It’s a very personalized approach to helping them take ownership of their life and move forward,” Besendorfer said.
The final decision on if the person is approved for the scholarship is based on if they meet the financial requirements and whether one of the 48 programs fits with their life and goals.
After that initial conversation, the candidate will be asked to do an 60-question assessment that helps uncover what careers and work environments would be a good fit. The next step is getting enrolled in the program of your choice.
“The process was easy, honestly,” Forbes said. “I signed up, they immediately emailed me back the next day. They asked about my background and what I wanted to do. They was like, ‘Okay, give me a couple of days.’ And I think, two, three days later, they got me enrolled.”
Other resources for scholars
While in the program, students are assigned a scholar advocate who will continue to work with them on interviewing skills and career development for up to a year after their graduation.
If students complete a training program and still land a job that is less than $45,000, they can work with Great Jobs KC to enroll in additional training to help boost their likelihood of landing a better paying job, according to Besendorfer.
Again, there are also resources available for scholars who need help in other areas like access to a computer, child care or transportation.
“We figure all of that stuff out before we enroll you in the program. So we’re being proactive, to plan for success, which is really important,” Besendorfer said.
