by Suzanne Potter
Help is available for people looking to break out of a low-wage, “go-nowhere” job because the nonprofit Merit America is expanding its training courses, thanks to a huge new grant.
Crankstart, a family foundation based in San Francisco, is giving more than $15 million over the next few years.
Connor Diemand-Youman co-founder and co-CEO of Merit America, said they have trained 10,000 learners across the U.S. since 2018.
“At Merit America, we believe that low-wage work should be a launching pad, not a life sentence,” Diemand-Youman explained. “If we can provide the right coaching and support, everyone anywhere should be able to access family-sustaining wages and a career that they love, not just a job that they have to show up to. And this is the American dream.”
He pointed out Merit America facilitates online courses on tech skills with intensive career coaching and peer support on a flexible schedule to accommodate learners currently in the workforce. The programs average about 25 hours a week for 20 weeks, and cover topics like data analytics, project management and cybersecurity.
A study by the University of Virginia found alumni of the program see their average salaries jump from $26,000 a year to $50,000, three months or more after graduation.
Diemand-Yauman noted the program costs a maximum of $5,700, which learners pay off over five years once they graduate and get a job making at least $40,000 dollars a year.
“We designed the programs to be fast, flexible and affordable,” Diemand-Yauman emphasized. “Which we find are the main barriers for folks who are stuck in low-wage work and want to get into a new career.”
Merit America estimated the new partnership will allow the program to serve 2,000 more learners, driving about $200 million in wage gains. Anyone over 18 can apply.
