SkillUp Program

Learn more about SkillUp programming in Chattanooga, TN

The Economic & Workforce Development (EWD) team at Chattanooga State Community College offers customized, short term training for hiring employers and job seekers wanting to increase their skills to better compete for jobs.

SkillUp in Chattanooga

The Economic & Workforce Development (EWD) team at Chattanooga State Community College (CSCC) offers custom short term training and utilizes existing programs to support companies that are searching for skilled employees. These short-term programs provide employers with a pipeline of talented, credentialed employees. A recent SkillUp program resulted in employers extending job offers to every one of 26 students who completed course work. These upskilling programs offered at CSCC are a powerful ‘earn while you learn’ solution that allow students to earn a wage while attending classes.

Cost & How It Works

The EWD team at Chattanooga State works with the employer to develop and teach courses resulting in a pool of skilled individuals ready to go to work. Chattanooga State partners with non-profit and local government entities including the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, the Enterprise Center, the City of Chattanooga and others to recruit and screen participants to go through the program. Once participants have completed classroom training they will participate in on-the-job training with the employer who then hires participants upon completion of the program.

The cost for the program includes wages for participants while they are in training, cost of the instructor and associated materials and space. Total costs depend on the time required for the training program and the skill level needed for the instructor but have ranged from $100,000 to $150,000.

Industries Supported

The program has provided training for manufacturing and IT to date but can also be customized for other industries. Specific credentials include the GoogleIT certificate and the Certified Production Technician credential. Individuals from past cohorts have been hired by Gestamp, M&M, Chattanooga Bakery, Hamilton Plastics, Southern Champion Tray, and Trident Transportation.

Why We Pay Participants

SkillUp participants earn an hourly wage while they are in the classroom and during on-the-job training. Few individuals have the ability to stop earning a wage while they retrain or gain new skills. The hourly wage allows participants to focus on learning new skills while providing for their families and working toward a new career. It also instills soft skills including the responsibility of clocking in and out at beginning and end of the day, punctuality and time management.