Paul D. Camp Community College has received a $175,000 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grant from the Hampton Roads Workforce Council to fund the launch of an Out-of-School Youth program. The HRWC is formerly known as Opportunity Inc.

According to Director of Workforce Development Angela Lawhorne, the new program will be offered under the PDCCC Division of Workforce Development as part of the VCCS FastForward credentials initiative. The FastForward programs are funded by the Workforce Credentials Grant.

“The new FastForward Out-of-School Youth program will serve out-of-school youth ages 16 to 24 who reside in the cities of Franklin and Suffolk, and Southampton and Isle of Wight counties,” said Lawhorne.

Participants will receive career guidance and certification training in one of the following FastForward programs:

• Class A Commercial Driver’s License Truck Driver
• Fast Track Healthcare
• Fast Track Welding
• National Center for Construction Education & Research Industrial Maintenance — Electrical and Instrumentation
• CompTIA A +, Network+, Security+ and/or Cyber Security
• Manufacturing Skill Standards Council Certified Logistics Technician program

Following training, students will have the opportunity to participate in paid internships at local companies before receiving assistance with permanent employment. The grant will pay the interns $8.50 an hour.

“We are currently seeking local employers to host youth internships,” said Lawhorne.

The Out-of-School Youth program will also include free workshops, along with a financial literacy series led by staff from Bank of America, and field trips.

“We are in the process of bringing a new FastForward Out-of-School Youth coordinator on board at PDCCC,” said Lawhorne.

Youth who are interested in the program may email workforce@pdc.edu or call Lawhorne at 569-6064. Employers who would like to participate may also call Lawhorne.