Virus relief job training funds offered

Virginia is allocating $30 million in federal funds to help people whose employment has been affected by COVID-19 to get workforce training in a high-demand field, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday.

The money comes from Virginia’s allocation of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars.

The new Re-Employing Virginians (REV) initiative will provide scholarships to eligible individuals to enroll in a workforce or community college program in five essential industries including health care, information technology, skilled trades, public safety and early childhood education.

The initiative will provide one-time REV scholarships of $3,000 to register in a qualifying full-time workforce program and $1,500 to register part-time or in a short- term, noncredit training program.

The Virginia Community College System and the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads local workforce development areas will administer the funding, with $27 million allocated to VCCS for statewide programs.

Interested individuals should contact their local community college as soon as possible to apply before the Dec. 14 enrollment deadline. Information about eligibility criteria and applying for a REV scholarship is available at https://www.vccs.edu/rev/.