A workforce development project, paid for with ARPA dollars, is helping Wichita high school students identify career pathways into aviation, manufacturing, automation and health care.
108 students, 84 percent of which were students of color, participated in the first year of the health care program. 113 WSU Tech credentials were awarded and 94 industry credentials earned. The program not only sets up students for a career pathway in healthcare but did so by saving them over $184 thousand in tuition.
Lynn Loveland, Dean of Health Sciences at WSU Tech, said after COVID a lot of health care workers were burned out and did not want to return to the industry. Students were apprehensive as well so it has taken a few years to gather momentum but said the program was helping to do that.
A similar program that trained students for manufacturing and aviation careers was called a national model by the U.S. Department of Education.
In all, the city of Wichita received $72.4 million in ARPA funding and earmarked $20 million to address negative economic impact initiatives.