WINSTON-SALEM —  The Bank of America Charitable Foundation has given $10,000 to support scholarships for skills development at Forsyth Tech through the Economic and Workforce Development division.

Bank of America is lending, investing and giving in local communities to provide resources where there are disparities, advance local economies and create positive change.

“In order for our community to thrive, we must work together to fill jobs with skilled employees,” said Janet Spriggs, president of Forsyth Technical Community College. “Through job training and quality instruction, this program is giving underemployed or unemployed individuals an opportunity for a rewarding career. We’re excited to partner with Bank of America to support this training and to drive economic mobility in our community.”

The CareersNOW program (formerly JobsNOW) in the Economic and Workforce Development division, is an innovative approach to train, educate and prepare unemployed workers in the area to become gainfully employed as quickly as possible. This training initiative provides an avenue to build and maintain a skilled workforce. The program provides short-term (usually six months or less) occupational training that helps unemployed and underemployed individuals gain access to jobs in demand for the Piedmont Triad area and puts them on a career path that, with further education and experience, can lead to wage growth and a rewarding career.

Courses in the program include HVAC service tech, electrical lineworkers, electrical installation and troubleshooting, facilities maintenance technician, activity director, customer relations management in a call center, veterinary assistant, culinary arts, medical unit secretary, nursing assistant, pharmacy assistant and welding as well as others.

Ebony Burns is one such individual who found herself unemployed and in need of training to obtain a job. The mother of two middle school boys, she was looking for a way to improve the economic status for her family.

Burns felt that if she could get a job as an adult day care worker, this could lead to her ultimate goal of opening her own center for adults. Burns received the fall course catalog in the mail and found the activity director program offered at Forsyth Tech.

“I felt this was exactly the pathway that she was seeking that would lead me to be able to open my own center one day,” said Burns. “I inquired about financial assistance for the class and was pleased to learn about the Bank of America scholarship, which paid for tuition and books.”

Burns enjoyed the class and found it to be everything that she expected and needed in this area to work in a nursing home or living assistance center. Upon completion of the course, Burns was able to obtain a job at Williams Adult Day Center working full time as a program specialist.

“This will give me the experience needed when I’m ready to open my own facility,” said Burns.

She believes the assistance received from the Bank of America Scholarship will lead to the economic stability she and her family desire.

“We are grateful to Bank of America for this support,” said Juanita Murphy, recruitment and enrollment advisor who led the implementation of this scholarship program through the Economic Workforce Development division at Forsyth Tech. “Teaming up with Bank of America, we’re addressing these critical needs, increasing economic opportunities and helping change lives.”