Trade Adjustment Assistance

Knowledge is power. You have the power to earn that degree or certificate if you know where the free grant money is to pay for it, and that's precisely where the Workforce Education Office at Green River comes into the picture. We're here to help you find free money to help you pay for school. We're your resource connection.

There are lots of grant programs at Green River and in the surrounding community in place to help students pay for school. There's Worker Retraining, Opportunity Grant, WorkFirst, and BFET (the four programs administered by the team here in Workforce Education). There's also Federal Financial Aid, WIA funds, Green River Foundation scholarships, as well as scholarships offered on thewashboard.org.

Yet another possible source of funding is Trade Adjustment Assistance, which is unique in terms of the depth and breadth of support it can offer qualifying students. Benefits through this federally funded program may include fully funded training at a community college, a health care subsidy, weekly income support, funding for out-of-area job searches, funding to relocate for suitable employment, and a wage subsidy for older workers.

Trade Adjustment Assistance is typically available to workers whose employer moved production outside the USA; outsourced jobs outside the USA; imported from foreign suppliers; competed with foreign companies; or experienced a change in customer supply due to foreign competition.

To learn more visit taa-washington.org. At this site you can read about Trade Adjustment Assistance in detail and determine your eligibility for benefits. You can also call 1-866-TAA-3399 or ask to speak with a Trade Act counselor at your local WorkSource affiliate.

Workforce Investment Act Funding

As we've stated in earlier posts here and here, our philosophy in Workforce Education is simple: If you need help paying for school, create options for yourself by applying for as many different funding programs as possible.

For example, when new students approach our office to apply for Worker Retraining, Opportunity Grant, WorkFirst, or BFET funds, we also help them identify and apply for additional funding programs on campus or in the community. Some of those additional funding programs include Federal Financial Aid, Green River Foundation scholarships, or scholarships offered on thewashboard.org.

Another possible source of funding includes Workforce Investment Act funds, or "WIA" funds, for short. In many cases, WIA funds can pay for two quarters worth of tuition, fees, and books, so they are definitely worth applying for. These funds are typically available to those who are either collecting Unemployment Insurance benefits or who have exhausted Unemployment Insurance benefits, or to underemployed / low-income adults.

And applying is easy! Call 253-833-9111 ext 2211 to make an appointment with a WIA representative on Green River's main campus. If setting up an appointment on campus doesn't fit your schedule, you can also apply for WIA funds by attending a "Job Search and Training Resources Workshop" at your local WorkSource Affiliate. If you choose the workshop route, be sure to visit a WorkSource in the county you live in.

Prof Tech Profile #8: Administrative Assistant

Today's Prof Tech Profile is on the Administrative Assistant Program and features a brief Q and A with esteemed faculty member Tonya McCabe (we interviewed Tonya in an earlier post on the Business Applications Specialist Program, which you can read here).

Hi Tonya. Welcome back to the blog. To start, can you give us a short overview of the Adminstrative Assistant Program at GRCC?

Tonya: The Administrative Assistant Program offers students an opportunity to develope essential skills in their area of interest, as well as a comprehensive general education.

What type of person might be a good fit for the Adminstrative Assistant Program at GRCC?

Tonya: Students who wish to work in a professional office setting in an administrative support position would be a good fit for the Administrative Assistant Program at GRCC.

What jobs will training in this field prepare students for?

Tonya: Students who successfully complete the Administrative Assistant degree often find employment in entry and mid-level office support positions depending on their experience and skill set.

Finally, how can prospective students learn more about the Administrative Assistant Program at GRCC?

Tonya: Students can contact a Business Ed faculty member or read about the program by clicking here.

FUNDING TIP! All four Workforce Education funding programs - Worker Retraining, Opportunity Grant, BFET, and WorkFirst - support the Administrative Assistant Program at GRCC.