Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) have announced the third round of Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) grants. This round will see $41 million allocated to regional partnerships based at 20 community and technical colleges across the state. The GIVE program aims to enhance career and technical education, particularly in rural and economically distressed areas.
The GIVE program is designed to address skills gaps in Tennessee’s workforce. It supports the development of career pathways that connect secondary education, postsecondary institutions, and local employers. This third round of GIVE grants will fund 23 projects statewide, impacting 47 counties, including six economically distressed and 13 at-risk counties.
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“The state with the workers will win every time, and that’s why workforce development has been one of my top priorities since day one,” said Gov. Lee. “As a result, companies are choosing to invest and expand in our state, creating greater opportunity and quality of life for all Tennesseans.”
Since its inception, the GIVE program has seen Tennessee invest $91.5 million to support rural workforce development. The first and second rounds of funding in 2019 and 2021 served an estimated 15,500 students. The initiative has contributed to the creation of over 41,500 new jobs and nearly $19 billion in capital investment in rural counties since 2019.
GIVE grants of up to $2 million each are awarded to collaborative efforts that create or expand academic programs, develop work-based learning experiences, or provide industry-recognized certifications in high-demand areas. This initiative aims to meet current employer needs and stimulate economic growth by aligning Tennessee’s education system with workforce requirements.
“The GIVE grants represent a significant step forward in our mission to bridge the skills gap in Tennessee’s workforce,” said Steven Gentile, THEC Executive Director. “By fostering collaboration between educational institutions and local industries, we are creating pathways for students in rural and at-risk counties while ensuring that our state remains competitive in a rapidly evolving job market.”
Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings remarked, “The programs and projects funded by this latest round of GIVE Grants will create many new opportunities for Tennesseans to learn career-building skills to compete and advance in today’s technology-based economy. Our system’s succinct mission statement is Student Success and Workforce Development, and our community and technical colleges are the front-line providers of academic, career, and technical education.”
For more information on the GIVE initiative, click here. For the list of third-round GIVE projects and recipients, visit the official announcement.
The College System of Tennessee is the state’s largest public higher education system, with 13 community colleges, 24 colleges of applied technology, and the online TN eCampus serving approximately 140,000 students. The system is governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents.
Contact:
Richard Locker
615-366-4417
Published: 08/28/2024
Follow on Twitter: @CollegeSystemTN
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