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Gov. Ralph Northam announced recently that the new Re-Employing Virginians (REV) initiative for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will provide up to $3,000 in tuition funding to train individuals in a high-demand field at Southside Virginia Community College and other community colleges across Virginia.   

Governor Northam announced that Virginia is allocating $30 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars to help Virginians whose employment has been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis pursue workforce training in a high-demand field. The REV initiative will provide scholarships to eligible individuals to enroll in a workforce or community college program in five essential industries, including health care, information technology, skilled trades, public safety, and early childhood education.

“Virginians who have been furloughed, had hours reduced, or lost a job because of the pandemic are struggling and wondering what the future holds,” Northam said. “Investing in programs that help people develop skills in high-demand fields is a win for workers, employers, and our economy. As we focus on recovering from the impacts of the global pandemic, the new REV initiative will give Virginians the resources they need to get back on their feet and help ensure that our commonwealth emerges from this public health crisis even stronger than we were before.”

The initiative will provide one-time REV scholarships of $3,000 to register in a qualifying full-time workforce program and $1,500 to register part-time or in a short-term, noncredit training program.

“Even with high unemployment rates, many employers are still struggling to find the talent they need in critical sectors,” Chief Workforce Development Advisor Megan Healy said. “The REV scholarships will help close the skills gap between the jobs open and the Virginians in search of a new career path.”

Interested individuals should contact SVCC as soon as possible to apply before the Dec. 14 enrollment deadline. To find out more information and apply, visit: southside.edu/re-employing-virginians, or call (434) 949-1021.