Weld County to support workforce development scholarships through 2023

GREELEY — The Weld County Board of Commissioners recently approved a plan that ensures funding of the Bright Futures scholarship program through 2023.

The plan, which will transfer funds annually from the tax credit trust fund and the economic development trust fund to the Bright Futures Weld County Student Grant Trust Fund, will provide stability for the program, according to a Weld County news release.

Total annual funding is $3 million. The plan calls for a larger portion of the funding to come from donations each year, gradually reducing funding from the tax credit and economic development trust funds.

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Launched in 2015 and overseen by the Upstate Colorado Economic Development, Bright Futures is a workforce-development program aimed at providing financial assistance to military veterans, high school graduates, and GED recipients who want to pursue post-secondary certificate or degree programs.

“This model shows the private sector that their contributions, which go directly to the students, and Bright Futures is doing a great job in supporting and aligning industry sectors and academic institutions by providing skills development to fill positions,” said Upstate Colorado Economic Development CEO Rich Werner. “This ecosystem puts Weld County and the region in a competitive position as it develops the next generation of workforce.”

The program was altered in January in order to make it more sustainable.

Changes included requiring the stipend to be begun within two years and completed within six years of graduation or GED date, moving the stipend from “first dollar in” to “last dollar in,” meaning the Bright Futures stipend will be applied in conjunction with all other scholarships instead of initially, and requiring an annual 16 hours of community service in Weld County from each student in the program.