Bright Futures Weld County was created in 2016 by the Weld County Commissioners to establish a workforce development program. Understanding the importance of trade skills as well as academic skills, the Board of Commissioners designed the program to financially assist students pursuing post-secondary education or a certified training program.
Bright Futures currently awards eligible students up to $2,000 per year for four years toward post-secondary education tuition. In addition to providing tuition assistance for qualifying students, the Bright Futures program has implemented a Career Pathways Program as part of their workforce development goal. They were awarded a Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative Matching Student Scholarship in December 2019.
The Weld Trust awarded the required matching grant in July 2020 to fully implement the Bright Futures Careers in Healthcare Program. This program, in partnership with Banner Health, focuses on low-income Weld County residents, including students of color and first-generation students, who are typically underrepresented in post-secondary training. The program funds are used to help students obtain a 2-year degree or certification in the healthcare industry and have access to a healthcare career upon completion of the program. Banner Health identified the following positions as areas of greatest need: certified nursing assistant, emergency medical technician, and medical assistant.
Since 2016, Bright Futures has provided a successful tuition assistance program for over 4,000 students and veterans in Weld County. The grant from The Weld Trust helped promote a strong Weld County workforce while providing opportunities to eligible students.
