Industries across the board (design included), are still feeling the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some companies were able to benefit from the Paycheck Protection Program in the spring, those funds haven’t been able to sustain the many employees that have been furloughed or laid off. You have options and AIGA Boston would like to share an opportunity available to you from our chapter partner, American Graphics Institute (AGI).
Through funding by the state of Massachusetts, AGI is able to provide free training and Certificate Programs at no cost. Learn more about these two programs to see if you are eligible for either.
For Those Recently Unemployed
If you’ve recently become unemployed, you can gain new, marketable skills while you continue your job search.Training Opportunities Program Section 30 can cover the cost of AGI’s Certificate Programs. While you are taking part in these multi-week programs, you continue to receive your weekly benefit payments from the Department of Unemployment. Choose from User Experience (UX), Web Design, Digital Marketing or Photoshop certificate programs.
To learn more about this program or to find out if you’re eligible, get in touch with Program Coordinator Prachi Jain.
For Those Currently Employed by a Massachusetts Small Business
The Workforce Training Fund provides training resources to Massachusetts businesses for current employees, including courses provided through AGI. There are many courses available at no cost to employers or individuals of Massachusetts-based companies with under 100 employees. If you’re eligible, select courses and dates four or more weeks in advance to allow time for your registration to be processed.
Who’s eligible for the Workforce Training Fund?
Different programs are available based upon the number of employees in Massachusetts. Those working for organizations with 100 or fewer employees in Massachusetts can enroll in regularly scheduled courses with minimal documentation requirements. Those working for employers with more than 100 employees are eligible for more training options requiring additional documentation. Contact Prachi at AGI at pjain@agitraining.com for more details.
What is the cost to employers or employees?
Nothing! There is no cost to employers nor employees for the training being offered by AGI under this grant program.
Which courses are eligible?
More than one dozen regularly scheduled public courses at AGI are available for the no-cost training, including classes on After Effects, Creative Cloud, Google Analytics, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, InDesign, Illustrator, HTML, Javascript, Advanced HTML, Responsive HTML, Responsive Web Design, SketchUp, UX Design, and WordPress. View the full course schedule and more information at Workforce Training Fund Courses.
To learn more about this program or to find out if you’re eligible, get in touch with Program Coordinator Prachi Jain.
Image adapted from photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash
