T-L Photo/JOSIE BURKHART The GRIT Project awards $50,000 to Belmont College to allow it to offer a three-week summer program for workforce credential certifications to graduating high school seniors.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Students interested in HVAC, heavy equipment, drones and more can complete a free three-week course this summer at Belmont College, thanks to a grant from the GRIT Project.

Belmont College is offering a summer program to graduating high school seniors in partnership with GRIT Ohio. The programs will be in workforce credential certifications and internship and job placement opportunities, including drone piloting, a stepping stone toward achieving the FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate; heavy equipment technician for those who want to learn to diagnose and repair mechanical, hydraulic and structural systems issues; and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), learning to install, maintain and repair systems that keep people comfortable in their homes and at work.

Other available programs will be pharmacy technician, a course to prepare students to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam and make them eligible to apply to earn their certified pharmacy technician credential, along with welding to create skills that are in high demand everywhere from construction to manufacturing.

The no-cost, three-week course will take place thanks to funding from the GRIT project, which awarded Belmont College $50,000.

“This summer program is designed to provide graduating high school seniors with the skills, certifications and real-world experience needed to launch their career,” said Keith Kaczor, director of Industrial Trades at Belmont College. “This is a great opportunity for students who are looking to gain valuable skills that can lead to immediate employment.”

These classes will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 9-27, Monday through Friday, with lunch and vending machines provided.

GRIT stands for growing rural independence together and is an initiative that builds in-demand workforce and fosters economic growth through coalitions. The initiative covers 32 Ohio Appalachian counties and brings together nonprofits and workforce sectors, such as manufacturing or the healthcare industry, K-12 school systems and higher education institutions, such as Belmont College.

GRIT has been putting on summer programs for the past few years, and senior program manager for the GRIT Project Sarah Redoutey said the program is doubling in size.

“We’re excited to have Belmont College as a new training provider in this region … ,” she said. “We really wanted to make sure we had a solid partner here in the Belmont area to cover these surrounding counties.”

Redoutey added that what’s important to the GRIT project is to align students with jobs that are in demand. It helps them launch careers where they will be happy and make a good wage.

The GRIT project targets high school seniors without a plan, trying to get students who don’t really know what they want to do into the workforce.

The grant gives the college the opportunity to credential 50 students from the Ohio Valley. There will be an orientation for all of the students and a graduation ceremony at the end where students can meet potential employers and register for classes in the fall to continue their education while they work if they wish.

Every area of the program has job opportunities open right now, and Kaczor said these summer courses are preparation for these jobs that are only going to increase.

Belmont County outreach partner for the GRIT Project Lisa Duvall said area residents know “what a gem” Belmont College is, noting it has been an enthusiastic and innovative partner for Project GRIT. She added that these courses are an opportunity for students to build skills, earn a credential and go into the workforce at no cost to themselves or their families.

The instructors for these programs include heavy equipment technician instructor Hunter Southwood, welding technology instructor Lindsay Hess, HVAC instructor Shan Kelley, pharmacy technician instructor Dr. Melissa Vostatek and drone instructor and retired Blackhawk Army pilot Robert McAninch.

To be considered as a student for the program, graduating high school seniors must complete an application form at gritohio.org/summer-training/interest-form/. Those who apply will be contacted to schedule a virtual meeting to review their interest and desired program, according to a news release.

“We know that there are people in all of our communities who are doing the work of economic development, and they’re doing the work of workforce development,” Duvall said. “What we want to do and what we partner to do is knit those coalitions together so that everyone’s working together because that’s how we grow our communities.”