Gift supports tuition assistance for workforce training programs

To put more Montgomery County residents on the path to jobs offering family-sustaining wages, the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®, on Sept. 7 presented Montgomery County Community College with a check for $10,000 to support tuition assistance for students enrolling in the College’s Fast-Track to Employment Programs.

Regular college financial aid does not cover these types of training courses for adults or traditional-age students, according to Arline Stephan, vice president for Institutional Advancement at MCCC. Grants for students from the funding provided by the TD Charitable Foundation can provide enough help to get students through program completion, she said. “We are very grateful to the TD Charitable Foundation for this generous grant,” Stephan said. “They have been a tremendous partner with the College in helping to fund programs that make a difference for our students and in our communities, and this grant is another example of the TD Charitable Foundation’s impact.”

 Education opens so many doors and this program is a prime example

"Education opens so many doors and this program is a prime example," said Tom Shoemaker, Market President, TD Bank. "Montgomery County Community College is offering opportunities for students to learn and gain employment, which is invaluable, and we are thrilled to support such an effort."

The Fast-Track to Employment Programs offered through Workforce Development at the College include 14 programs in the fields of healthcare, manufacturing, professional, public safety, and scientific and technical services ranging in cost from $900 for Microsoft Server Technician training to $7,950 for Massage Therapy. The time commitment for these programs ranges from just three and a half weeks to nine months.

“We developed the Fast-Track to Employment Programs to provide a pathway for jobs with family-sustaining wages,” said Dr. David DiMattio, vice president of Workforce Development and Continuing Education at MCCC. “Completion of these programs not only prepares students for immediate employment, but also positions them for more advanced education. Many of the credits can be applied toward other certificates or degree completion for students who later wish to increase their skills through further education.”

Fast-Track to Employment Programs include Massage Therapy, Nurse Aide, Medical Record Technician, Gas Distribution Pipeline Mechanic, Metals Manufacturing Technician, Machinist (Computer Numeric Control) Training, Payroll Technician, Office Assistant-Customer Service Specialist, Real Estate Sales License Training, Computer Network Technician/Engineer, Computer Repair Technician, Microsoft Server Technician, Cyber Security Technician/Engineer and Municipal Police Academy training.

For more information on applying for tuition assistance for these programs, please contact Denise Collins, administrative director of workforce development, at dcollins@mc3.edu or call 215-461-1127.