MOLINE, ILLINOIS (November 17, 2020) — The Moline Foundation is pleased to announce workforce development awards of $55,000: $37,000 to the Quad City Career and Technical Education Consortium [QCC TEC] to support the transition to Xello Career Exploration Software, $3,500 to Black Hawk College’s Outreach Center, $1,500 to Black Hawk College’s Career Center, and $13,000 to Mercer County Better Together/High-Tech Small Town.
“The Moline Foundation has been a long-time supporter of workforce development and career exploration in our region,” comments Paul Plagenz, President/CEO of The Moline Foundation. “Helping the schools sign up and access Internet-based Xello is important to the students and the region’s future workforce. We also want to encourage both Black Hawk College students and community members to use the resources at BHC to get the training they need and to find jobs.”
Xello helps every student, regardless of background, ability, or pathway, understand their future academic and career possibilities. It will assist students in discovering relevant college, university, trade, and career options based on their personality, skills, and knowledge.
“We appreciate the support and cooperation of The Moline Foundation in helping QCC TEC make this a reality,” states Larry Shimmin, QCC TEC Director. “For FY21, one of QCC TEC primary goals is to provide Xello access to all middle-/junior-high school and high-school students in its region. Xello offers career exploration and development through an organized, systematic framework designed to aid students in making informed plans and decisions about future education and career opportunities."
QCC TEC is comprised of 16 school districts from Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, and Stark Counties. It works to designed and deliver quality career and technical programs to enable all students to be prepared for employment, continuing education, and productive citizenship in today’s global market.
At BHC Outreach, the $3,500 grant will fill gaps in financial assistance for students who are trying to upgrade skills or train for new employment opportunities. Students who enroll in short-term training usually do not qualify for traditional financial aid due to federal regulations on duration of training, but these short-term programs can be just what some students need to improve their employment options.
The BHC Career Center will use the $1,500 grant to creating a virtual interview room. Given COVID, this will be a critical resource to those who do not have either a computer or internet connection to get a job.
Lastly, $13,000 to Mercer County Better Together/High-Tech Small Town to have a workforce development computer center in Aldeo, Illinois. Currently, Mercer County doesn’t have a place for citizens to access workforce development resources. Starting after the new year, this will give them a location to access information and computers to enter the workforce, find training and other resources.
About The Moline Foundation
The Moline Foundation, founded in 1953, is a community foundation which provides grants to health, human services, education, community development, the arts, and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of Moline and the surrounding area. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts for all citizens in a seven-county region including Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Warren, Henderson, and McDonough Counties in Illinois, and Scott County in Iowa.
