Congratulations to the Office of Workforce Development on winning the 2024 Ratcliffe Pitch for Skilled Trades Grant during the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurs (NACCE) Pitch for the Skilled Trades competition. The grant provided $40,000 for the expansion of the barbering program to Kent Campus. Dr. Cedrick Gibson, Julie Stein, Carissa Gardner and Joe Lackey presented a compelling case for expanding the barbering program, which is currently limited to serving only 10 students at a time. With the win, they received $40,000 in funding to expand the barbering program to Kent Campus.

The NACCE competition, held October 14, 2024, during the organization's annual conference in Minneapolis, MN, brought together community colleges from across the nation to pitch innovative programs that enhance local workforce development.

“Barber training offered by private schools can exceed $13,000. This expansion will be a game-changer for aspiring barbers in our community,” said AVP of Workforce Development and Entrepreneurship Dr. Cedrick Gibson. “Our new barber learning lab at the Kent Campus will allow us to serve up to 50 students, providing affordable and accessible training for a vital career path.”  

The expansion reflects the FSCJ's commitment to providing affordable education that meets the community's workforce needs. The innovative barber learning lab will feature state-of-the-art equipment, an entrepreneurship-focused curriculum and hands-on training to prepare students for successful careers in the barber industry.

To learn about the Barbering Career Certificate (C.C.) program, visit https://www.fscj.edu/academics/programs/cc/5622.