Officials in Grove City say they've started a job training reimbursement program that’s the first of its kind in the country.
Grove City leaders say the Skilled Trades Award Investment Program will use money from the city's general fund to reimburse any resident getting training in a skilled trade.
Council member and legislation sponsor Ted Berry says they'll give people up to $700 a year, up to a total of $2,100, as long as they complete their courses or certification process.
"It's the first in the nation that we know of that's municipally funded, and it's a credit to our council and the administration for working together as a team to come up with such a unique program," Berry says.
Berry says the program looks to shrink the so-called skills gap, where employers need trained workers and workers need training.
It does come with one caveat: people who want to be reimbursed have to do 10 hours of "volunteer time" or community service every semester.
