250 Maricopa Community Colleges Students to Receive No-Cost Career Advancement Training

Wednesday, November 29, 2023
An image of a smiling woman wearing nursing scrubs and holding nursing textbooks

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is proud to announce a partnership with Maricopa County that will provide 250 students with new career pathways. Participating students will receive no-cost training to further their careers in high-demand industries.

"This partnership exemplifies the dedication of Maricopa County to invest in the career development and success of its residents," stated Clint Hickman, District 4, Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. "We believe that nurturing the growth of our workforce is not just an investment in our residents, but also in our local economy and the employers who call our community home."

This is the second collaboration this year between Maricopa County and MCCCD, reinforcing their commitment to providing career advancement opportunities and workforce development for the residents of Maricopa County. In January, a $6.4 million initiative was announced to help 250 students train for jobs in high-demand industries through the Route to Relief program.

“We are proud to partner with Maricopa County to provide residents the opportunity to advance in their careers and earn higher wages,” said MCCCD Chancellor Dr. Steven R. Gonzales. “This partnership demonstrates Maricopa Community Colleges leadership in workforce development training, producing highly skilled students equipped with the knowledge, and credentials required to succeed in today’s competitive job market.”

Participants can earn credentials to become licensed practical nurses, work in early childhood education, enter or advance in the construction industry, help people through behavioral health careers, and jump into the world of information technology careers. To date, 97 students have already enrolled for the Fall 2023 cohort for programs that include:

  • Amazon Web Services Cloud Specialist
  • Automotive Service
  • Banking and Finance
  • Composites Technician
  • Nursing
  • Peer Support Specialist
  • Semiconductor Quick Start

This joint effort and the shared commitment to shaping the future of workforce development and educational opportunities in the region is one of the initiatives that resulted in the county’s selection by the National Association of Counties (NACo) to be one of eight participants in the 2023 cohort of the Counties for Career Success program.

Maricopa County has been working with a wide variety of public and private partners to stimulate career development growth across the region. The partnerships, representing more than $9 million in investments, offer career training, apprenticeships, and opportunities for career seekers to learn new skills, obtain industry-recognized certifications, and help employers in the county access a new pipeline of highly-skilled, local workers. To date, the county has partnered with:

For more on this and other programs offered by the Maricopa County Human Services Department, visit Maricopa.gov/HSDConnect, and for program information and to enroll at one of MCCCD’s ten colleges visit Maricopa.edu.