The Augusta Technical College Foundation is pleased to announce that Bank of America has approved a $100,000 investment in a new workforce development initiative at Augusta Technical College: Focused, Accelerated Skills Training, or FAST. FAST is designed to provide short term training and certifications programs at the college. The Bank of America investment will fund three programs: 1) Manufacturing Fundamentals Bootcamp, 2) Forklift and OSHA Training, and 3) Medical Scribe skills.

Coordinated by Augusta Technical College’s Corporate and Community Education Department, the new program will partner with employers and WorkSource Georgia to provide placement opportunities after students complete a program of study in either Manufacturing or Medical Scribe, two industries that need workers due to high demand.

The investment by Bank of America will be used to hire a Manufacturing Instructor who will also market and recruit new students facing underemployment or unemployment because they lack basic skills that employers demand. The cost of the tuition will be underwritten by the funding from this grant. Participants will receive basic skills training in areas like forklift training, OSHA safety training, work ethics and classroom instruction giving them an opportunity to work in entry level manufacturing companies and setting them up for long term success. 

“Augusta Technical College has built a successful program for technical training and job placement that will better equip members of our community in performing jobs that are not only in high-demand, but are also critical to growing the Augusta economy,” said Ora Parish, President, Bank of America Augusta / Aiken. "Our partnership furthers our commitment to supporting solutions that advance racial and ethnic equality and create economic opportunity in our community.” 

The Medical Scribe program is an online self-study being introduced to the Augusta market that will provide self-paced training which will result in a certification as a Medical Scribe. Tuition for this program will also be underwritten by the grant. 

“Bank of America is one of the strongest partners we have at Augusta Tech. Their investment in our college is also an investment in our community and future workforce," stated Beverly Peltier, Director of Institutional Advancement and The Augusta Technical College Foundation. "By funding FAST Skills Training, they are enabling underserved and underemployed individuals to be a part of our community’s economic recovery in a quick and efficient manner. We are keenly focused on helping Augusta and its surrounding communities grow their workforce and this grant opens the door for that to happen.” 

This investment in Augusta Technical College is a part of Bank of America’s $1.25 billion dollar investment into communities of color to help drive economic mobility in the communities they serve. Bank of America’s commitment will deepen and extend ongoing initiatives that help workers acquire the skills they’ll need to fully participate in the new economy.