Tunxis Community College in Farmington now offers scholarships to qualifying low-income students who receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, provides food-purchasing assistance for low individuals and families living in the United States. SNAP Employment & Training programs were created to help recipients gain skills, training, or experience to increase their ability to obtain regular employment.

With the federally funded SNAP scholarships, students can enroll in nine Tunxis Continuing Education & Workforce Development health careers certificates with high industry demand at no cost, which include Certified Sterile Processing, Registered Medical Assistant, Certified Nurse Aide, Emergency Medical Technician, Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, Veterinary Assistant, Certified Patient Care Technician, and Certified Phlebotomy Technician.

“We have already had strong response to the SNAP scholarship program, which reduces barriers to work by providing the training, resources and additional support these students need to complete their program of study and find employment,” said Eileen Peltier, Dean of Continuing Education for Tunxis and Asnuntuck Community Colleges. “We are very pleased that Tunxis is able to provide this service to our community.”

Classes form on a continuous basis, and SNAP scholarship information sessions are scheduled each month for those interested. To apply, contact TCC’s SNAP Success Coach, Shaina Hamel at [email protected] or 860.773.1454. For more information, visit tunxis.edu/SNAP. The Connecticut SNAP Employment and Training Program is administered by the Department of Social Services. To learn more about SNAP in Connecticut, visit visit https://portal.ct.gov/dss/snap.

SNAP is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, helping to feed more than 40 million Americans each month, including some community college students. SNAP is designed to support low-wage workers, with 43 percent of participants living in households with reported earnings. SNAP helps one in 10 workers in the U.S. put food on the table, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

From healthcare careers, business, and computer skills to personal enrichment and customized training, Tunxis Continuing Education and Workforce Development is one of the largest providers of workforce training programs within the Connecticut Community College system, offering more than 200 courses each semester that prepare learners with 21st century skills and employment in areas with industry need. Over 6,000 students enroll in credit and continuing education programs at Tunxis each semester.