Over 12 years ago, Robert Dunford was not exactly sure what the future held. The job that was providing for him and his family was disappearing. He had a lot of uncertainty about his employment prospects.
But then he learned about the South Georgia Technical College Workforce Investment Act Displaced Worker program that would provide financial assistance for tuition, fees, books, and direct training costs. The WIA program helped him begin the educational journey that prepared him for a new career path and even though it is now known as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program, it is still helping students and displaced workers.
Dunford enrolled in the South Georgia Technical College Horticulture program on January 2nd, 2008. In three quarters, he graduated from the Horticulture Program and began a new career with the Andersonville National Historic Site.
Fast forward to now, over 12 years later, Dunford is still employed with the Andersonville National Historic Site and loves his job which allows him to work outside and take care of the historic site grounds. He credits the WIA (or WIOA now) program with giving him the opportunity to restart his career and put him back on the path to a fulfilling career.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) still helps South Georgia Technical College students today. It is a federal program that assists eligible students in select programs with college-related expenses such as tuition, fees, books, and direct training cost. The federal funds are made available to SGTC by the River Valley Regional Commission and the WIOA board.
“Robert Dunford is just one of the many success stories that we have here at South Georgia Technical College through the WIOA program,” said WIOA Coordinator Sandhya Muljibhai. Recently Muljibhai visited class rooms on the South Georgia Technical College campuses to encourage students to explore their eligibility and apply for the assistance.
Over 20 programs at South Georgia Technical College are eligible for the WIOA program (limited enrollment allowed in some programs). Those programs include: Accounting, Air Conditioning Technology, Aircraft Structural Technology, Auto Collision Repair Technology, Automotive Technology, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Avionics Technology, Commercial Truck Driving, Criminal Justice Technology, Diesel Equipment Technology, Early Childhood Care and Education, Electrical Lineworker, Electrical Systems Technology, Electronics Technology, Emergency Medical Technician, Industrial Mechanical Systems, Industrial Systems Technology, Law Enforcement Academy, Machine Tool Technology, Medical Assisting, Practical Nursing and Welding and Joining Technology.
To qualify for WIOA assistance, students must be currently enrolled at South Georgia Technical College or have been accepted by SGTC; be enrolled in a program that WIOA accepts; have applied for financial aid (you do not have to receive financial aid, but you must have attempted to receive financial aid.); meet income eligibility; meet sustainability standards (this includes passing an assessment phase and interview phase) and live in the Middle Flint Area 16 region of: Crisp, Dooly, Macon, Marion, Schley, Sumter, Taylor, or Webster County.
To learn more about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and to find out if you qualify, call the Sandhya Muljibhai or Minnie Williamson in the SGTC WIOA office at 229.931.2172.
South Georgia Technical College is currently accepting students for its Spring C-term, or mini-mester. Classes start March 9th. During C-term, students can obtain 16-weeks or credit in only eight weeks of classes. For more information, contact the SGTC admissions office at 229-931-2760 in Americus or 229-271-4051 in Crisp County. Students can also email Katrice Taylor at ktaylor@southgatech.edu on the Crisp County Campus or Whitney Crisp at wcrisp@southgatech.edu on the Americus campus.