The coalition that applied for the grant says it seeks to support economic growth and strengthen the pipeline of the region’s skilled workers by providing training opportunities to unemployed, underemployed and disadvantaged populations.

Dr. Steven Bishop speaks at the grant announcement event Monday on OTC’s campus.

Dr. The school has begun accepting applications for these programs for fall 2017.

Bishop says the structure offers immediate job placement opportunities after training, adding that’s not always the case with certain occupations.

“With an Associates of Applied Science in Behavioral Health Support, there is an actual job geared for that degree. We still have to do some of that, but this is an excellent opportunity for us to field folks very quickly and meet those behavioral health needs very quickly and with a high level of quality.”

Representatives from CoxHealth and Mercy, two other organizations expected to hire graduates of these programs, also spoke Monday.

Mary Ann Rojas, director of the city’s Department of Workforce Development, says the degrees and certificates stemming from the grant will reach many people at various levels.

“Whether they’re part-time jobs, whether they’re full time jobs, and the demand for those jobs is just going to increase.