Roane State Foundation receives $75,000 grant to help small businesses and students affected by COVID-19

The Roane State Foundation recently received a $75,000 Tennessee Community CARES grant to help Roane State students affected by COVID-19 and provide training for local small businesses, entrepreneurs, and contractors to help them build their businesses and be more responsive during the pandemic, a press release said.

Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis for the following programs:

• Environmental Infection Protection (Cleaning)—This course prepares people to know how to clean and prepare facilities for use following CDC guidelines. The course is available online, requiring eight hours over a two-week period to complete.
• Remote Work Boot Camp—This course prepares people to work from home as a result of COVID-19 in their current job and/or to look for employment where they can work from home due to unemployment or other pandemic impacts.
• Financial Management for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses—The purpose of the training is to help current small businesses and entrepreneurs, as well as future ones, to gain the skills needed to prepare and implement a business plan, operate a business from a financial perspective, and engage with their peers in solving business problems, particularly those related to COVID-19. Participants can take the Personal Finance course and three more topics.
• Roane State “Maker Space Package”—The Maker Space package will allow participants completing four of the Financial Management courses above, or other similarly targeted Roane State curriculum, to have access to Roane State’s Maker’s Space at the Cumberland County Campus. The Maker Space provides small businesses and entrepreneurs with access to tools, software, space, and mentors to make virtually anything. Tools include a woodworking shop with a 3D CNC wood router, 3D printers, laser cutter/engraver, vinyl cutter and heat press, and computer design workstations. The tools can be used to produce products and/or “logo” items to market/promote a business.

The grant will also provide funds to help current Roane State students with specific needs as a result of the pandemic. Any student in need of extra financial support can alert the college by emailing [email protected]. Students requesting assistance are asked to provide details explaining how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted their ability to continue their education.

This project is funded under a grant contract with the Tennessee Department of Human Services through the TN Community CARES Program. For more information about the above training, please visit https://www.roanestate.edu/ccg. Questions can also be directed to Sonya Parker, Roane State’s Workforce Training Manager, by emailing [email protected] or by calling (865) 481-2031.

Roane State Community College is a two-year college providing transfer programs, career-preparation programs, and continuing education. Founded in 1971, the college has locations in Roane, Campbell, Cumberland, Fentress, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, and Scott counties as well as a branch campus in Oak Ridge. For more information, visit www.roanestate.edu or call (865) 882-4554.

Remember, eligible adults can now attend Roane State tuition-free with the new Reconnect grant. Learn more at www.roanestate.edu/reconnect.