Metallica Awards GRCC with Another Grant for Workforce Training

Metallica are continuing to help out students here in Grand Rapids!

The band is awarding Grand Rapids Community College a third grant to continue the school's program training students for in-demand welding jobs. The $25,000 in scholarships is aimed at helping underserved community members gain skills and hands-on welding experience to land a career in the field.

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GRCC is one of 23 colleges across the country -- and the only one in Michigan -- to have received the grants.

The Metallica Scholars program, part of the band's All Within My Hands Foundation, is partnering with the American Association of Community Colleges. The Metallica Scholars grant supports job training in community colleges and helps the band reinvest in cities where they've toured.

In a release, Metallica's James Hetfield said,

As a touring entity we are in direct involvement with multiple essential career choices along our path. From electrical, professional driving, culinary, mechanical maintenance, public safety, logistical organizers. And that just scratches the surface. Those, along with a multitude of other technical careers, make our touring and our performances possible. We are passionate and grateful to these trades and tradespeople.

GRCC was first selected for Metallica's Scholars program in 2018, receiving $100,000 in funding, and later an additional $50,000.

Julie Parks, interim dean of the School of Workforce Development at GRCC said,

This is a great opportunity for individuals in our community to get in-demand skills and great jobs. The Metallica Scholars program is a great example of how philanthropy, educators, and employers can come together to fill vitally needed jobs and provide meaningful employment opportunities as our region recovers from the pandemic.

You can find out more about GRCC's Workforce Training here and in particular, the Metallica Scholars Welding program here.