Do you know someone who needs to finish and complete their GED?  Wiregrass Georgia Technical College’s Adult Education program is now offering a “JumpStart program.”  The new JumpStart program is collaboration between Literacy to Work initiative and Technical College System of Georgia, Office of Adult Education and the Georgia Office of Workforce Development and focuses on 10 counties where 28% or more of the adult population lacks a high school diploma or GED.  Wiregrass will be overseeing this program in Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, and Irwin counties.  Students participating in this program will attend classes four days a week for four hours per day.  If students meet the eligibility requirements for Workforce Investment Act (WIA), they could be eligible for up to $36 week to assist with expenses such as transportation.  WIA Program Coordinator Debbie Haskin shared, “The JumpStart program is in your local community to help relieve some financial burdens that may have prevented one from getting their GED. There are free GED classes, gas funds, and testing fee scholarships available.” The WIA program is a federally funded job training program designed to provide assistance to those needing occupational skills in order to obtain employment or advance with their current employer.

JumpStart will begin April 6 in Brooks County. Classes will run 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Mondaythrough Thursday. The classes are located at 400 East Courtland Avenue in Quitman.  According to the Cenus.gov website, the percentage of adults ages 18 to 24 years in Brooks County who did not graduate from high school is 30.3%.

Tiffany Holmes, Executive Director of the Quitman-Brooks County Chamber of Commerce, said, “The JumpStart program offers a tremendous opportunity to those in our community that have desired to earn a GED, but have lacked the financial resources needed to do so. This is a great time to reach out to those people and let them know what assistance is available. Earning a GED can put someone on the right path to gainful employment, and helps create a stronger workforce for Quitman-Brooks County.”

For more information about this program contact Betty Smith at 229-333-2123. Wiregrass’ Vice President of Adult Education Alvin Payton shared, “Only you can decide what your educational future will be.  You have an opportunity to earn your GED and JumpStart your life! Why not do it today!”  For more information visit www.wiregrass.edu.