Goodwill of Colorado Receives Opportunity Now Colorado Grant

DENVER—April 11, 2024 – Goodwill of Colorado has been awarded a planning grant totaling $49,893 from the Opportunity Now Colorado Grant Program. The grant will support the continuation of Goodwill’s LIFT (Learn, Improve, Focus, Thrive) IT training program that prepares Coloradans for rewarding careers in the fast-growing technology sector. Governor Jared Polis announced Goodwill of Colorado as one of 43 grant recipients creating and expanding programs that prepare Coloradans for in-demand, high-wage jobs.

The LIFT IT training program is available in Colorado Springs and Denver, using a hybrid learning model to provide instruction, hands-on training, career development support and preparation to successfully pass certification exams. Since its inception in 2017, the LIFT IT Training program has graduated 357 students with a job placement rate of nearly 80 percent and average wage of $28.84 per hour.

Yasar H., a LIFT graduate who now manages Goodwill of Colorado’s IT help desk team, said, “The training, the work, the internship—all of these things have helped add meaning to my life—and there’s a purpose. I believe that what I’m doing has a purpose.”

“We are thrilled to receive this planning grant, which will allow us to further our mission of empowering individuals facing significant barriers to education and employment,” said Karla Grazier, President and CEO of Goodwill of Colorado. “LIFT provides participants with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the technology industry, opening doors to new opportunities and economic independence.”

The planning grant will be utilized for program development, curriculum design, and instructor training to ensure the ongoing successful operation of the LIFT program. Goodwill of Colorado is committed to utilizing this funding to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment that meets the unique needs of program participants.

For more information about Goodwill of Colorado and its LIFT program, please visit https://goodwillcolorado.org/services/it-training/.

About Goodwill of Colorado

Goodwill of Colorado helps transform people’s lives. We are a registered 501(c)3 organization providing career placement, education and training, and community programs for nearly 150,000 Coloradans each year—including military veterans, seniors, youth, and individuals who have a personal or economic barrier to employment. For more than a century, Goodwill has supported Colorado communities and through our commitment to sustainability annually diverts more than 200 million pounds of donated items from Colorado landfills. Learn more about our impact here and follow @GoodwillColorado on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Opportunity Now Colorado

Opportunity Now Colorado is a grant program administered by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) aimed at supporting the creation and expansion of programs that prepare Coloradans for in-demand, high-wage jobs and careers. Through regional partnerships and innovative workforce development initiatives, Opportunity Now Colorado seeks to strengthen Colorado’s workforce and economy.

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