Cascades Job Corps Academy accepting applications

SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash. – The Cascades Job Corps College & Career Academy in Sedro-Woolley is now accepting enrollment applications.  A demonstration project funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, the academy will provide students with opportunities to earn college credits and industry-recognized credentials in health care and information technology.

Young people ages 16 through 21 who meet the eligibility requirements can start the enrollment process for the tuition-free program by visiting www.cascadesjobcorpscca.com or by calling (800) 733-JOBS.

“Job Corps is constantly evolving to prepare young people to meet workforce needs,” said Job Corps National Director Lenita Jacobs-Simmons. “Increasingly, companies and businesses require that job applicants have at least some college education.  The Cascades academy will provide education and training opportunities for young people who possess the dedication and commitment to pursue successful careers.”

As a demonstration project, the academy will seek to measure student outcomes. Eligible applicants must demonstrate skills at an eighth-grade level or higher in reading and math to be considered for the program. The program takes up to three years to complete, depending on students’ individual goals. Students will be selected through a lottery, and the first students are expected to begin the program in April. The academy will eventually serve up to 510 students each year.

The academy offers career training toward certifications and credentials in the high-demand health care and information technology industries; college credits through partnerships with Skagit Valley College and Whatcom Community College; and evening and auxiliary programs, such as money management and language learning classes. Students without a high school diploma or the equivalent can earn one while attending the academy through a partnership with the Sedro-Woolley School District.

Students reside on campus and have access to dormitories, meals, basic medical care, and recreation opportunities.

The academy is open to eligible young people in Washington state, and is the nation’s only Job Corps College & Career Academy. There are three additional Job Corps centers in Washington – Columbia Basin Job Corps in Moses Lake, Curlew Job Corps in Curlew and Fort Simcoe Job Corps in White Swan – which offer career skills training in a variety of areas, including construction, medical, office technology, forestry and firefighting, and others.

Job Corps is a tuition-free training and education program that connects eligible young men and women with the skills and opportunities they need to establish careers. Administered by the department, Job Corps serves more than 60,000 young people each year at 125 centers in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  To learn more about Job Corps, visit www.jobcorps.gov or call (800) 733-JOBS.