"Workforce Education at Green River was VERY instrumental in allowing me to go back to school, and I'm grateful for all the assistance I received and continue to receive." - Genie L, Green River Student

"Make sure you talk to Workforce Education...They can help in many ways to make things go smoothly and make sense." - Chris S, Green River Student

"Workforce Education...will embrace you and lend a helping hand with open hearts." Elsie Q, Green River Student

"Workforce Education has been there for me since day one!" - Jenny S, Green River student

May 14, 2010

About The Go 2 College Free Program

Go 2 College Free is the name of a campaign at Green River Community College put on throughout the year by the Workforce Education Office. In a nutshell, Workforce Education administers four funding programs that help qualifying students pay for school. Our funding programs include Worker Retraining, Opportunity Grant, Basic Food Employment & Training, and WorkFirst. Most of our programs pay for 100% of tuition and fees, and some even offer money for books. Let's briefly talk about each funding program in a little more detail.

First, there's the Worker Retraining Program.

This program is available to students in need of a skill update and who want to earn a professional technical degree or certificate at Green River Community College.  You might qualify for the Worker Retraining program at GRCC if you are collecting Unemployment, if you have exhausted your Unemployment within the last 2 years, or if you have recently receiving a layoff notice.  You might also qualify if you have separated from the Armed Forces within the last 2 years with an honorable discharge or if you are displaced as a result of a divorce, separation, or death of a partner / spouse. 

Second, there's the Opportunity Grant Program.

This program is available to students who want to earn a profressional technical degree or certificate in the field of Autobody, Aviation, Business, Education, Healthcare, Natural Resources, or Welding. You might qualify for the Opportunity Grant program if you are a Washington State resident who meets a set of low-income guidelines.

Third, there's the Basic Food Employment & Training Program (or BFET, for short).

This program was first piloted in Washington State in 2005 at South Seattle Community College. Since, it has expanded to various other community and technical colleges throughout the state, including Green River Community College.  This program is available to students who want to earn a professional technical degree or certificate, or who want to earn their GED or High School Diploma.  You might qualify if you live in either King, Pierce, or Kitsap County and if you are eligible to receive Basic Food Assistance

Fourth and final, there's the WorkFirst Program.

This program, like BFET, is available to students who want to earn a professional technical degree or certificate, who want to earn their GED or High School Diploma.  You might qualify if you are a parent who receives Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), and if you have permission from your DSHS case manager to go to school. 

Interested?

To apply, visit go2collegefree.com.  A the website you can take a brief, anonymous survey to confirm your eligibility; after taking the survey, you can then sign yourself up for the next available Go 2 College Free funding workshop.  Workshops are offered on a rotating basis throughout the year, before the start of each quarter of study, and are typically held on the Auburn main campus.