INA, Ill. (Aug. 2, 2023)—Rend Lake College receives $240,000 Trade Grant to expand career pathways and educational opportunities in Southern Illinois.
Rend Lake College was awarded approximately $240,000 through the Trades School Program Grant administered by the Illinois Community College Board. This grant will allow RLC to fund a recruiter to inform potential students at in-district high schools and throughout the community about opportunities in the allied health and trades career pathways.
In Fall 2023, the college will begin a new program that hosts a series of one-day career camps for middle school and high school students. Funded by the Trade Grant, the career camps serve to highlight different career opportunities that are available to students in the community. RLC has partnered with Waltonville and Woodlawn high schools to provide dual credit courses at the MarketPlace campus in Mount Vernon geared towards RLC’s Certified Production Technician Certificate.
RLC also partnered with Mount Vernon High School and their CNA dual credit program, to provide work-based learning opportunities as well as fund their CNA exam fees.
“The Trade Grant allows us to expand and build upon our existing partnerships with area high schools,” said Kim Wilkerson, RLC’s Associate VP of CTE and Student Support. “Ultimately, this provides a skillset and opportunity for the students of our district to explore future careers.”
The funds from the Trade Grant helped hire a CTE Success Coach, who will serve as a contact for all program participants. The coach will work with students to remove barriers to help retention and completion rates. Rend Lake College believes in offering students the best chance at success in educational and career pathways. The college plans to expand the Trades Program to manufacturing careers after the Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy opens at the MarketPlace.