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Career Forward

Metropolitan Community College’s CAREER FORWARD program is American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funded. This program provides supplemental financial support, non-credit/credit scholarships, funding for books and other educational and training tools, connections to employment (business placement sponsorships for small businesses), career coaching, and basic skills support in the classroom to enable individuals who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, and are currently unemployed or underemployed, to receive short-term skills training and job placement services offered in cooperation with state and federal workforce funding systems. Eligible candidates for ARPA funding must not be receiving Pell Grant funds at the time of application.

Eligible Participants Must:

  1. Be at least 18 years of age
  2. Have a minimum education level of GED
  3. Meet income guidelines (325% of federal poverty guidelines - 48 States  |   Alaska  |  Hawaii
  4. Have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 AND classified as unemployed, underemployed, or an incumbent worker
  5. Commit to attend all components of entire training program
  6. Be ready to obtain and maintain full-time employment upon training completion
  7. Be willing to work with MCC staff and report employment data upon program completion

Getting started

  1. Attend a Workforce Information Session. Sign up here:  Workforce Information Session
  2. Complete an application and submit all required documentation:  Apply  
  3. Application Due Dates: 
  • Winter 2023 - November 10, 2023

  • Spring 2023/24 – February 9, 2024

  • Summer 2024 – May 1, 2024

  • Fall 2024 – August 9, 2024

  • Winter 2024 – November 8, 2024

  1. Complete the NCRC assessment. Sign up here:  NCRC Assessment  
  2. Choose your training program. You can select from over 116 approved training programs. Many credit programs include the Career Certificate and Certificate of Achievement. You can also select from a wide variety non-credit Workforce Development trainings.
  3. Meet with a Career Skills Coach to complete an intake questionnaire, discuss requirements for training program and training dates of selected program. A link to schedule an appointment will be provided to you during the Workforce Training Information Session you attend.
  4. Application will be reviewed and candidate will be enrolled in training program pending all required step are completed.

Quick Questions

Q.  What if I’m already an MCC student?
A.  Career Forward funding can be awarded to existing MCC students who do not receive Pell Grant funds. A current MCC student should call or email to discuss further how the Career Forward program can support them.

Q.  What if I already participated in a non-credit Workforce Development Training?
A.  We review each situation on a case-by-case basis. You should reach out directly to the Career Forward team to discuss eligibility.

Q.  Which companies/businesses does the Career Forward program work with?
A.  MCC has partnered with Heartland Workforce Solutions on the Heartland Work Ready Community for business engagement. Priority is given to companies that sign up in support to the Heartland Work Ready Communities are invited to meet, interview, and select students in our training programs. MCC works with businesses across the Greater Omaha area. A list of businesses involved with the ACT Work Ready Community, can be found here: ACT

Have additional questions? Contact us: Call 531-MCC-7000 or email careerforward@mccneb.edu