Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology has received a $150,000 grant from the Truist Foundation to support its short-term job training programs with Tec Centro.
Stevens College’s Workforce & Economic Development Center partners with Tec Centro on six-month courses in plumbing, HVAC, electrical and HVAC maintenance, providing graduates the skills and qualifications to secure entry-level jobs in high-demand trades.
The majority of the “Skill Up Fast” grant from the Truist Foundation will go toward tuition support. Half-tuition scholarships will be matched with equal funding from Tec Centro to provide full funding for the students in the programs.
The remainder will fund other program costs including recruitment, wraparound services and administration. Stevens College anticipates spending down the grant by the end of 2023, said Pam Smith, vice president of college advancement.
Tec Centro is a bilingual job training school founded by the Spanish American Civic Association and headquartered on Chester Street in southeast Lancaster. Stevens College offers courses at Tec Centro’s branch location on the city’s west side at the former Carol B. Winters Family Advocacy Center.
The Truist Foundation is a philanthropic initiative of Truist Bank. It focuses on nurturing entrepreneurship and economic development in underserved communities.
Truist Bank was formed by the merger of BB&T Bank and SunTrust Bank in 2019. BB&T entered the Lancaster County market in 2015 when it acquired Susquehanna Bancshares.
