Defense Grant Awarded to Assist Veterans and Their Spouses in Southwest Georgia

Staff Report From Albany CEO

Tuesday, June 11th, 2019

Albany Technical College has been selected as the fiscal agent of a Defense Grant, offered by the Technical College System of Georgia Office of Workforce Development. 

This Defense Community Economic Development Fund will directly impact the lives of military veterans and their spouses in the local community. Albany Technical College will enter into a one-year agreement with City and County Governments of Albany, Dougherty County. A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed Tuesday morning, June 11, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in Albany Technical College’s Logistics Education Center, Executive Board Room (second floor). 

Under the agreement, Albany Technical College in collaboration with the City and County Governments of Albany, Dougherty County will provide career and technical training services to the military personnel and/or their spouses that are transitioning out of service. These individuals will be eligible to take Technical Certificates of Credit (TCC) and/or Continuing Education courses, which will allow them to use within the local workforce region or upon transferring to another station for duty. Some of the examples of TCC’s available to these individuals include:

Health Care

Phlebotomy

Nurse Aid Certificate

EKG Technician

Diesel Technology

Quality Assurance Specialist

Microsoft Office

Real Estate Pre-Licensing

Upon completion of the trainings, participants will be eligible for internships, through the City of Albany and Dougherty County. The participants will have the option to intern within various governmental departments which aligns with their program of study.

“We’ve long held veterans and their families, who have served our country, in high regard and have worked diligently with the community to train and place these honored citizens in decent, good paying jobs in our community. This grant just reiterates the goals and objectives set forth by the Technical College System of Georgia in rural workforce development,” stated Dr. Anthony Parker, President of Albany Technical College. 

“The Dougherty County Board of Commissioners recognizes the importance of providing military families who locate to our community the opportunity to train for a second career,” said Christopher Cohilas, Chairman of the Dougherty County Board of Commissioners. “We are pleased to provide internship training to our military personnel and their families.”

“The Marine Corps Logistics Base is a major asset to our community and this partnership with Albany Technical College is a great opportunity for military families who are placed in our beautiful city to receive training,” said Mayor Dorothy Hubbard. “What better way to learn a skill than to get first-hand experience, and that is what the internship with the City will provide to those who will participate in this program.”

The Defense Grant amount is $59,646 and Albany Technical College is responsible for meeting all financial and programmatic requirements for this grant. The period of performance for the grant will be June 1, 2019 – May 31, 2020.