Intermountain Health receives grant to innovatively bolster workforce

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — Intermountain Health got a $1.9 million grant from Colorado to create new job opportunities. The grant, given out by Gov. Jared Polis, is part of a program called Opportunity Now. The aim is to improve job options for people in Colorado.

This grant is meant to encourage new ideas in education and workforce development. Intermountain Health plans to use it to start a program called Pathfinders. It’s an advanced system that uses technology to connect people with entry-level healthcare jobs. The program also helps cover the costs of training for these jobs.

Heather Brace, who works at Intermountain Health, says they’re leading the way in adapting to changes in how work happens. The Pathfinders program will match people with jobs based on their skills and help them get trained for better healthcare jobs.

The program targets people in Denver and Grand Junction who are in jobs paying less than $15 per hour, don’t have a college degree or are unemployed. It also aims to help older students, full-time workers and parents. Participants will get full-time jobs, free education and support to improve their skills and careers.

People who join the program can start as nursing assistants, medical assistants or sterile processing technicians. Then, they can move up to jobs like nursing or radiology.

The program’s leader, Marguerite Samms, says it’s inspired by her own experience as someone who needed support to succeed. The program offers various support services, like financial coaching and help with transportation and education costs.

Participants will start training right away and the program will help them find jobs that match their skills. The plan is to help 30 people each year for two years. And even after the program ends, participants can keep getting support for education and training.

If the program works well in these two cities, Intermountain wants to expand it to other places where it operates.

If you’re interested in these job opportunities, you can visit Intermountain Health’s website or contact them directly for more information.

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