Welcome to WorkForce Funding at Bellingham Technical College.

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: $25,520

Family Size: 2
Annual Gross Income: $34,480

Family Size: 3
Annual Gross Income: $43,440

Family Size: 4
Annual Gross Income: $52,400

Family Size: 5
Annual Gross Income: $61,360

Family Size: 6
Annual Gross Income: $70,320

For each additional person (beyond 6), add $4,320 annually

You may receive:

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

To apply, complete and submit the Opportunity Grant Application Form

Learn more about Opportunity Grant:

Schedule an appointment with the Opportunity Grant Coordinator by email oppgrant@btc.edu or by calling 360.752.8461.

Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) 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:

• Stop by our office or call 360.752.8351 to schedule an appointment with BFET Coordinator

• Meet with BFET Coordinator

• Complete BFET 101 Enrollment Services. You must meet with BFET Coordinator prior to completing this step.

Learn more about BFET:

Schedule an appointment with the BFET Coordinator by email bfet@btc.edu or by calling 360.752.8351.

• Which transfer degrees are eligible for BFET?

  Associates of Applied Science (AAS) and Associates of Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T) programs are eligible programs for BFET students.Short certificates that lead to employment may also be eligible for BFET. Residential Home Inspection, Phlebotomy and Project Management are not eligible for BFET funding.

• Do I have to apply for BFET every quarter?

  No. Once fully enrolled in BFET, complete your check-ins every month, maintain satisfactory academic progress, remain in good standing with Financial Aid and keep food benefits open to remain active in the program.

• What is the minimum number of credits I need to participate in BFET?

  There is no minimum number of credits required participate in BFET. However, most classes are five credits.

• Can I still be in BFET if my food benefits close?

  No. BFET participation requires that food benefits are open through DSHS.

• If I am not taking classes during the summer can I still be in BFET and get my food benefits from DSHS?

  It depends. If your six-month review is required during the summer months, this can affect your eligibility for food benefits. If you do not have a review, your food eligibility should remain the same.

• I received a suspension notice email from BFET. Why? What do I do now?

  Suspensions happen for a number of reasons please contact our office for clarification.

• What happens if I miss a check in?

  If students do not check in for two consecutive months they are dropped from the BFET program. The Workforce Funding office emails a BFET Reinstatement Appeal to students with instructions on how to submit. BFET Coordinators review submitted documents and respond to student regarding reinstatement status. If approved, the BFET student will become active again in the BFET program.

• How do I add BFET’s Canvas course to my dashboard?

  With your Welcome to BFET email, you will receive a link to the current BFET Canvas course.

• When am I able to requests services through BFET? How do I request services?

  BFET opens requests for services during registration for the upcoming quarter. Services are generated through Canvas,by selecting the link that corresponds to the service you would like to request.

• How long does it take to get verification for a tuition and/or book request?

  Once the request is submitted in Canvas, it can take up to three business days to process the request.

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 JLewis@btc.edu or by calling 360.752.8461.

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

Contact a Workforce Funding Coordinator by email at wrt@btc.edu or by calling 360.752.8492.

Learn more about Worker Retraining

Schedule an appointment with BTC Worker Retraining Coordinator by email wrt@btc.edu or by calling 360.752.8492.

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).

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 and send to:

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

BTC Passport Coordinator:
Mark O'Connor
passport@btc.edu
360.752.8377