It has become increasingly evident that full-time employment doesn’t necessarily cover a family’s basic needs. That’s just one reason why Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) strives to make sure more residents of the Charlottesville, Virginia region have the training and support needed to land high-quality jobs that can set them on a path of upward mobility. Through its Division of Community Self-Sufficiency Programs, the College runs Network2Work@PVCC — an initiative that helps job seekers get resources and training to become more marketable and connects employers with a pool of motivated and skilled employees.
Participating employers in fields such as transportation, construction, healthcare and hospitality list jobs on the Network2Work@PVCC website that pay at least $25,000 annually for full-time positions, or $12.50 an hour, and do not require a college degree. Employers complete a detailed job description with the relevant skills, training and experience needed, work hours, compensation and benefits. Then the program’s neighborhood-based connectors reach out to unemployed or underemployed individuals who they know would be a good match for the job. Network2Work@PVCC provides the skills training needed for the position and connects the job seekers with resources such as reliable transportation and affordable childcare — two of the biggest barriers to employment.
PVCC’s goal is to support 4,000 Charlottesville-area families by connecting individuals to the training and support they need to secure family-sustaining careers. To help Network2Work@PVCC expand and enhance its services, Bank of America has provided a grant to the Piedmont Virginia Community College Educational Foundation, which supports PVCC’s work in this area.
The support for the Piedmont Virginia Community College Educational Foundation is an example of Bank of America’s commitment to help advance racial equality and economic opportunity in local neighborhoods around the country. From entrepreneur funding and expanding home ownership to professional skills training and healthcare access, Bank of America continues to partner with innovative leaders to help communities implement solutions to society’s important challenges.
Visit www.pvcc.edu/community-business/network2work to learn more about Network2Work@PVCC.
