Your Skills. Your Future., an initiative that provides training resources to high school graduates and adults seeking careers in local industries, will now point people to educational opportunities at Chattanooga State Community College. With this addition and the new school year underway, students in Bradley County will now be more aware of available programs across the region.
The Your Skills. Your Future. workforce development initiative was launched to help local businesses and industries meet ever-increasing demands for skilled employees.
The initiative provides connections to opportunities for high school students and adults who wish to pursue technical training beyond high school without incurring significant student debt.
“Through partnerships with area schools, like Chattanooga State, we are able to develop skills and passions into successful and sustainable careers,” said Mike Griffin, president of the Cleveland-Bradley Chamber of Commerce. “Over the next decade, an estimated 3.5 million middle-skill jobs will be added to the workforce. Your Skills. Your Future. is dedicated to building a qualified workforce for available and future positions with local companies and manufacturers.”
Chattanooga State has more than 50 associate of applied science degrees and certificates that allow graduates to immediately enter the workforce. A certificate or degree can be earned with no student loan debt through Tennessee Promise, which provides two years of tuition-free attendance at a community or technical college in Tennessee.
“A skilled workforce is paramount to the success of both employers and our community,” said Dr. Rebecca Ashford, president of Chattanooga State. “We are always looking for new ways to expand our learning-based opportunities for current and prospective students. We look forward to the many doors Your Skills. Your Future. will open for students and adults looking to continue their education at Chattanooga State.”
The Cleveland-Bradley Chamber of Commerce launched the initiative in 2017, which was also implemented later by McMinn County in late 2018. Together, they connect job seekers to employment opportunities at companies like Wacker, Volkswagen, Rubbermaid, McKee, Denso, Amazon, Whirlpool, Tennessee Valley Authority, Wright Brothers and more.
Under the Your Skills. Your Future. initiative, Chattanooga State Community College will join Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Athens, Cleveland State Community College, The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Service and the Tennessee Career Center as a resource to job seekers in the area.