Program offers free college tuition

McMinnville elected officials have agreed to fund a program called Citizens for Progress that could give up to 1,000 teens a chance to go to college. The pilot program could begin this fall in Warren County.

The idea for the program came from the Education Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, and preparations actually began three years ago. At that time a steering committee, called Business Roundtable Action Committee (BRAC), set to work trying to determine the No. 1 need in the business community.

?We have taken two in-depth surveys of existing industries in the city and county,? said BRAC chairman Todd Herzog, referring to his fellow BRAC members. ?The No. 1 need expressed by existing industry is finding qualified entry-level labor. If you look deeper at that, unfortunately, there has never been any liaison between industry and education. At least that transcends my 30 years here.?

The committee met for more than a year, studied the situation and discovered a program in Sevier County that?s in its fourth year. That program offers local graduating high school seniors who qualify the chance to go to Walters State Community College tuition free for two years.

?The ambition of a program like this is to hopefully keep the kids here,? said Herzog. ?Hopefully tie them back to industry and give them a reason to stay in this county. That is our No. 1 objective. We like the idea of keeping kids here and making them available for our industrial needs.?

In Sevier County, the program pays about $1,000 per student after the student applies for scholarship aid and lottery funds available. After this has been obtained, the program supplies the remaining tuition, not including books.

Higher education benefits individuals by creating better employment opportunities, higher earnings and better health. It also impacts society by improving economic growth, lowering poverty levels, reducing crime rates and increasing civic participation.

In February, Gov. Phil Bredesen offered to finance a similar program that would allow graduating seniors to attend community colleges with funds from lottery money. If the idea passes through the General Assembly, the program could start state-wide in the fall of 2008.

?We wanted to know if Warren County could be a pilot program,? said Herzog. ?Our homework is already done. If we can come up with half the money, the governor?s office thinks they can get the other half. We think there will be 100 kids interested in the program at $1,000 each.?

First-year funding would require $100,000 with a 50 percent match locally. After that, the state may continue to help fund the program depending on budget constraints.

One-time funding will include:

? A 3-Star Grant for $15,000. The grant requires a $5,000 matching contribution that a BRAC member is willing to pay.

? Warren County will try to contribute $15,000 to $20,000.

? Bridgestone Firestone $3,000

? City of McMinnville $7,000

?We can?t let this program slip through the cracks,? said Herzog. ?It is too important to our community and to our kids.?

With that plea in mind, city officials agreed to donate the $7,000 requested.

Along with this program, BRAC has also started an internship between high school seniors and local industry. After offering the program at Warren County High School, over 50 well-qualified students applied.

Those students will be interviewed by area businesses for possible job positions after school hours and throughout the summer months.