Santa Fe College received a grant from the Walmart Foundation to provide low-income adults and older youth with skills to obtain middle-skill-level jobs.
SFC was one of 12 community schools that collectively received the $3.5 million grant.
Each school will receive $233,333 to use in teaching programs targeted at people who do not have a high school degree, are from low-income households or speak English as their second language.
Areas of the program include career counseling and job acquisition skills such as job search, resume writing, and interviewing techniques. Other programs include focusing on literacy, mathematics, computer technology and communications, said Julie Falt, SFC coordinator of adult education programs.
“It’s a support network for people to be able to make it on their own,” she said.
The program will kick off in January.
Heather Rouse, a 19-year-old SFC industrial biotechnology senior, said she understands the hardships of finding jobs given the economy.
“I can relate to others who struggle to find a job because of the lack of skills or experience,” she said. “The grant will be able to prepare students for the future.”
A version of this story ran on page 8 on 11/15/2013 under the headline "SFC gets grant to help residents get jobs"