Current Students

Financial Resources

Workforce Funding & Student Support

    Regular Hours

    Mon-Thu 8am-5pm
    Fri 8am-4pm
    Sat-Sun Closed

Contacts

Workforce Funding & Student Support Programs

Workforce funding staff image
Workforce Funding Staff

Opportunity Grant

With Opportunity Grant, low-income students can get ready for and enrolled in programs that provide high-demand skills for high-wage jobs.

Worker Retraining Program (WRT)

Unemployed or displaced workers and Veterans can update their skills or learn new, in-demand skills that lead to good jobs. If you’re eligible, you may also qualify for financial support through a state-funded grant.

BFET (Basic Food Employment & Training)

BFET eligible students, who receive federal basic food benefits, access education that leads to good jobs.

WorkFirst

WorkFirst assists eligible low-income parents who receive Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).

Passport to College

Support services and financial assistance may be available through a program serving former foster youth.

Resources:

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TRIO Student Support Services

If you are receiving or eligible for financial aid, you may qualify to get one-on-one support and coaching through TRIO Student Support Services (SSS). To see if you qualify or to apply, visit our TRIO page.

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WorkSource

Scholarships for dislocated workers and students with low income may be available for students admitted to a program that is considered to be in demand.

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SALT

Get personalized help managing your loans.

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Money: Budgeting for College

Get some hands-on experience creating a budget, and learn other financial planning tools. Here is a handy budget template (xls spreadsheet format) you can use.

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CashCourse

Find many financial planning resources here

    Regular Hours

    Mon-Thu 8am-5pm
    Fri 8am-12pm
    Sat-Sun Closed
     

Opportunity Grant

With Opportunity Grant, low-income students can get ready for and enrolled in programs that provide high-demand skills for high-wage jobs. Eligible programs include:

  • Welding
  • Electrician, HVAC, Precision Machining
  • Instrumentation, Process Technology
  • Automotive Technology, Diesel Mechanics
  • Surgery Technology, Radiology Technology, Nursing, Dental Hygiene, or Dental Assistant
and more. See the application for current eligible programs.

You may qualify if you:

  • Are 18 or older.
  • Have earned less than an associate’s degree.
  • Are a Washington resident of at least one year.
  • Completed the FAFSA, which shows financial need.
  • Are highly motivated and committed to your educational and career goals.
  • Have a family income within eligibility guidelines. This income chart will help you determine if you meet this qualification.
      Family Size: 1
      Annual Gross Income: $23,960
      Family Size: 2
      Annual Gross Income: $32,040
      Family Size: 3
      Annual Gross Income: $40,320
      Family Size: 4
      Annual Gross Income: $48,600
      Family Size: 5
      Annual Gross Income: $56,880
      Family Size: 6
      Annual Gross Income: $65,160
    • For each additional person, add $8120 annually

You may receive:

  • Tuition and fees for 45 college credits.
  • $1,000 for required books and tools.

Apply here for Opportunity Grant (PDF | RTF)

Learn more about Opportunity Grant:

  • Schedule an appointment with the Opportunity Grant Coordinator by email oppgrant@btc.edu or by calling 360-752-8442.
  • Drop-in hours for Opportunity Grant: Mondays 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and Thursdays 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

    Regular Hours

    Mon-Thu 8am-5pm
    Fri 8am-12pm
    Sat-Sun Closed

    Walk-In Hours

    Mon 11am-12:30pm
     

Worker Retraining

This program is designed to help unemployed or displaced workers update their skills or learn new, in-demand skills that lead to good jobs. If you’re eligible, you may also qualify for short term financial support through this state-funded grant.

Who could qualify? Individuals who:

  • Were laid off or have received a layoff notice.
  • Receive or are eligible for unemployment benefits.
  • Have exhausted unemployment benefits within the last four years.
  • Were self-employed but closed a business due to economic conditions.
  • Have been discharged from the Armed Forces within the last four years.
  • Active duty received separation papers from the military.
  • Lives or works, or has lived or worked, in a county declared a disaster area at the time of a disaster within the last 24 months, and whose employment situation was impacted by the disaster.
  • Qualify as a displaced homemaker:
    • An individual who has been providing unpaid services to a family member(s) in the home and who:
    • Has been dependent on the income of another family member but is no longer supported by that income; and
    • Is unemployed or underemployed, and is experiencing difficulty in obtaining or upgrading employment.
  • Qualify as a vulnerable worker:
    • A currently employed individual who requires retraining and meets two of the following three criteria:
      • Is employed in an occupation that is listed as "not in demand" on the region’s Demand-Decline List.
      • Has not yet reached the "tipping point", of one year (45 credits) and a certificate or degree related to their college coursework.
      • Is unable to meet new skill standards of current employment without retraining.

WRT is intended to be start-up or bridge funding, to get you enrolled and started in your program, or provide financial support during a time when other resources are not available. Recipients may receive:

  • Funds to cover tuition and books (may not cover 100%) during your first quarter at BTC. Additional program book costs may be covered contingent on WRT funding levels.
  • You may be eligible for waitlist priority — ask the Worker Retraining Coordinator to see if you qualify.
  • Assistance coordinating with other agencies, programs and funding sources to pay for the rest of your program, and to keep you in good standing with Employment Security if you receive unemployment benefits.

If you are facing layoff and have not opened our UI claim, please contact the Worker Retraining Coordinator in advance to registering at BTC for important information.

How to Apply

Learn more about Worker Retraining

  • Schedule an appointment with BTC Worker Retraining Coordinator by email wrt@btc.edu or by calling 360-752-8492.
  • Drop-in hours for Worker Retraining:

Questions about unemployment?

  • Meet with an Employment Security Representative by appointment by calling 360-752-8492 or
  • Drop-ins Thursdays 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Learn more about other funding options:

  • WorkSource scholarships for dislocated workers of up to 2 years may also be available for students already admitted to a program of study in a high demand field—be sure to ask about this if you are admitted to your program (prerequisites are completed).

    Regular Hours

    Mon-Thu 8am-5pm
    Fri 8am-12pm
    Sat-Sun Closed

    Walk-In Hours

    Mon 10am-12:30pm
    Tue 12:30pm-2pm
    Thu 8:30am-10am
    Thu 2pm-4pm
     

Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET)

Basic Food Employment and Training helps eligible students access education that leads to good jobs.

You may qualify if:

  • You are receiving or eligible to receive federal Basic Food Benefits. Find out if you qualify.
  • You are not receiving TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).

Priority is given to:

  • Students enrolled in Worker Retraining, Opportunity Grant and who have other sources of non-federal aid (state grant, scholarships).
  • Students who are required to work with BFET to receive DSHS child subsidy or to be in college.

You may receive:

  • Child care subsidy.
  • Continued Basic Food Benefits while you’re in school.
  • Financial assistance with college-related expenses.
  • Loan of books for general education and prerequisite classes.

How to apply:

Learn more about BFET:

    Regular Hours

    Mon-Thu 8am-5pm
    Fri 8am-12pm
    Sat-Sun Closed
     

WorkFirst

The WorkFirst program at BTC provides funding and services to low income parents. Funding and services support student success and help students reach their employment goals.

You may qualify if all of these apply:

  • You are a parent receiving TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).
  • You were referred by the DSHS caseworker.
  • You have completed the DSHS Comprehensive Evaluation.
  • Find out if you qualify.

You may receive:

  • Tuition, fees, and books, depending on other aid available to you.
  • WorkFirst Work Study job.
  • Child care subsidy through Working Connections Childcare (DSHS).
  • 1:1 support in educational planning, funding, and other strategies to help you succeed at BTC.

How to apply:

  • Contact your TANF Caseworker at DSHS to become eligible for TANF, contact DSHS or go to washingtonconnection.org.
  • If you and your DSHS Caseworker determine that training at BTC is your next step, your Caseworker will refer you to an orientation session at BTC.

Learn more about WorkFirst:

  • Schedule an appointment with the Workforce Funding Coordinator by email or by calling 360-752-8461.

    Regular Hours

    Mon-Thu 8am-5pm
    Fri 8am-4pm
    Sat-Sun Closed
     

Passport to College Promise Scholarship for Former Foster Youth

Through the Passport to College Promise Scholarship program, students receive a scholarship that assists with the cost of attending college (tuition, fees, books, housing, transportation, and some personal expenses), and specialized support services from a college staff member.

Eligible students may receive up to $1,500 per quarter in financial assistance. Passport students also may opt-in for personalized help and support services from the College Success Foundation.

Passport serves former foster youth who:

  • Spend at least one year in foster care in Washington state after their 16th birthday
  • Emancipate from care on or after January 1, 2007
  • Enroll at least half-time in an eligible college by their 22nd birthday
  • Maintain Washington residency
  • Be working toward earning their first degree or certificate

To apply, complete the Passport Consent Form

    Send it to:
  • Washington Student Achievement Council
  • Passport for Foster Youth Promise Program
  • PO Box 43430
  • Olympia, WA 98504-3430
  • Fax: 360-704-6246

If approved for Passport, students must notify the Passport Coordinator at BTC of their eligibility.