The Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation (PSCDC) recently announced the May 5 award of $100,000 from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
The Reskill, Upskill, New Skill (RUN) grant is part of the Colorado Workforce Development Council, targeted at rural communities in the state. The grant will support summer internships for construction trade and technical education (CTE) for local high school students, with trade participants in construction, culinary, health care and early childhood education, plus additional partners through Build Pagosa Inc. and the PSCDC.
“When the grant application opened in March, we knew that the rural isolation of our area combined with low average household income would easily meet the objectives of the funding from House Bill 21-1264,” said Emily Lashbrooke, executive director of the PSCDC. “We are building on the success of Build Pagosa Inc and its summer work program. Our employers need well-trained staff and this grant will provide additional skilled talent for the local economy. This is an opportunity for individuals to learn new skills, at zero or very little cost.”
The RUN grant funding will provide:
- Paid summer internships for high school students grades 9 through 12.
- Support stipends for uniforms, safety equipment and computers.
- Tuition and supplies for 2022 and 2023 classes at Pueblo Community College for certified nurse assistants and early childhood education.
The grant will support workforce training through September 2023. For more information on how to participate as a business or a high school or adult student, email: emily@pagosaspringscdc.org.