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SCHOLAR PORTAL

Women in nontraditional occupations

A person wearing safety gear and holding a torch stands in front of a metal grate outside, with another person working in the background—a dynamic scene from a Skills Training for Women in Non-Traditional Occupations program.

Who qualifies for this program?

The Great Jobs KC Skills Training Program provides tuition-free training to women who meet the following eligibility:

  • At least 17 years of age.
  • Live in Wyandotte, Johnson, or Ford counties in Kansas, or in Clay, Platte, Jackson, Cass, Atchison, Andrew, Holt, Worth, Gentry, or Nodaway counties in Missouri.
  • Make less than $45,000 per year individually.
  • A woman looking to start a career in a nontraditional occupation in manufacturing, logistics or construction.

Our programs are built on a foundation of support.

 
Digital Literacy →
 
To ensure you are workforce-ready, every Scholar begins with a Digital Literacy Assessment. This tool identifies your technical strengths and customizes a learning plan to prepare you for today’s tech-driven job market. Digital skills are a foundational requirement across all career pathways. Skills include navigating online learning, organizing and submitting digital work, practicing safe and responsible technology use, while gaining the confidence to master new software in hybrid work environments.
 
We provide targeted instruction to help you bridge skill gaps, ensuring you remain in good standing and are prepared for industry-recognized certifications.
 

Scholar Support Resources →

Once enrolled in a Great Jobs KC Program, our Scholar Support Services Team can work with each Scholar and their Scholar Advocate when life doesn’t go according to plan. We can help identify available resources and make personalized referrals where possible. Great Jobs KC and community partners collaborate to support Scholars through emergency situations with:

  • Transportation
  • Technology
  • Other Needs

Have questions about the program? See the FAQs below. If you still have questions, please contact us at greatjobskc@greatjobskc.org.

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Why select a nontraditional occupation?

Choosing a nontraditional career path unlocks distinct advantages:

  • Financial Independence & Equal Pay: Many skilled technical and trade fields feature significantly smaller gender wage gaps than traditional corporate environments, offering high entry-level wages and rapid pathways to middle-class stability.

  • High-Demand Career Security: With global labor shortages across infrastructure and tech sectors, women stepping into these roles gain exceptional job security, specialized expertise, and clear paths toward leadership and entrepreneurship.

  • Innovation Through Perspective: Women bring fresh problem-solving strategies, innovative design approaches, and collaborative leadership to male-dominated fields, proving that diverse teams build safer, smarter, and more creative solutions.

Thinking outside the norm isn’t just about breaking barriers; it’s about claiming equal space in high-impact industries and building a sustainable, high-earning future on your own terms.

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Need a GREAT JOB? We believe in your potential.

Frequently Asked Questions

Women 17 and older who meet the income criteria and live in one of the following Kansas City area counties (Kansas: Johnson, Ford,

Wyandotte; Missouri: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte, Atchison, Andrew, Worth, Gentry, Holt, or Nodaway). 

Ready to GET STARTED?

Great Jobs KC can open the door for you in the fields of:  Manufacturing, Construction, Logistics and Warehousing.

Ready to GET STARTED?

Due to the demand of our program, the length of time to complete the entire program can depend.  If accepted into the program, your assigned Scholar Advocate will work with you we work with you on an educational plan. 

Ready to GET STARTED?

You must have a High School Diploma or its equivalent to participate in the program. Great Jobs KC works with community partners who offer GED programs. We can refer you to one of these partners so you can complete your GED and begin our program.

Ready to GET STARTED?

Our goal at Great Jobs KC is to get every student that completes our program into a good-paying job. Many employers do require the successful completion of a criminal background check. We want to work with all students who are interested in our program. It’s important to disclose this information during your initial meeting with a Scholar Advocate so they can determine the best program options for you.

Ready to GET STARTED?

It is TUITION-FREE if you qualify.

Ready to GET STARTED?

Every participant comes to us with different levels of experience and education, which are all factored in when determining realistic salary expectations. While we can’t guarantee an exact salary, we aim to assist our graduates with securing entry-level jobs that pay between $45,000 - $85,000.

Ready to GET STARTED?

Yes. In order to be eligible for employment, candidates must provide documentation that they are eligible to work in the US. A Great Jobs KC Representative will discuss acceptable documentation. If you don’t have documentation, we can provide a list of resources that can assist you in obtaining the proper documentation.

Ready to GET STARTED?

All Training Programs are delivered in English, but we can refer you to second-language (ESL) courses to help you learn the language and prepare for training.

Ready to GET STARTED?

Ready to take the next step towards your future? CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED

Anytime! Most programs have multiple start dates. Please be aware that, due to increase demand for our program, there may be a wait time before you begin training. A Scholar Advocate will guide you through the process, reach out to GET STARTED.

What career paths does Great Jobs KC offer?*

Tap on the boxes below to find out!

available training programs depend on the county you live in.
Your scholar advocate can help you determine the best training program for you.

Some programs require previous industry experience or testing to show industry knowledge. 

CONSTRUCTION
CAREERS

CONSTRUCTION CAREERS

 CAD Drafter
Revit BIM
Intro to Construction

MANUFACTURING
CAREERS

MANUFACTURING CAREERS
Welding Technician
Soldering Technician
Industrial Seamstress/Sewing Machine Operator

LOGISTICS / WAREHOUSING
CAREERS

LOGISTICS / WAREHOUSING CAREERS

Commercial Driver's License
Warehousing and Logistics Specialist
Diesel Technician

Specific skills training programs are subject to change based on the availability of providers and the interest of Scholars.

Please reach out to greatjobskc@greatjobskc.org if you have questions about a specific program.

How does the Great Jobs KC Program Work?
WATCH THE VIDEO TO FOLLOW THE SCHOLAR JOURNEY

GREAT JOBS KC SUCCESS STORY

When women look beyond conventional career paths, they don’t just fill open roles; they reshape entire industries. Nontraditional occupations (defined as fields where women make up 25% or less of the workforce), spanning advanced manufacturing, logistics, and skilled building trades, represent one of the most underutilized avenues for personal and financial empowerment.

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Read our scholar success stories
A group of graduates in caps and gowns celebrating outdoors. Text on the image reads "Over $12 million in scholarships being awarded." These scholarships are paving the way for promising careers.
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Stephanie underwood - Chief financial Officer

Stephanie Underwood serves as Chief Financial Officer at Great Jobs KC, where she leads the organization’s financial strategy in support of its mission to create economic mobility through education and workforce opportunities. With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit finance, Stephanie brings deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She is passionate about using her career as a platform to serve and support mission-driven organizations, helping them maximize impact through strong financial stewardship.

Prior to joining Great Jobs KC, Stephanie served as Chief Financial Officer for Griffith Centers, a behavioral and mental health organization, where she oversaw financial operations for a multi-million-dollar organization spanning residential, educational, and community-based programs. She also spent nearly a decade as Vice President of Accounting Services at NFP Partners, providing CFO-level leadership to nonprofit organizations across the country, with a focus on strategic growth, audit readiness, and governance.

Outside of her professional role, Stephanie volunteers her time at her church and serves on the board of a local nonprofit. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to aligning financial strategy with mission impact. She holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate.

 

 

 

Adult Learner College Scholarship

Program offers:

  • Up to $25,000 paid directly to the college over the course of up to six years.
  • Once awarded, the Scholar can enroll full or part-time the fall semester following awarding.
  • Scholarship can be used at any of our college partners. See our current list of partners HERE.
  • Scholarship can be used towards an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or a credit-bearing credential. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

  • Be a high school graduate or GED holder (24 years or older).
  • Live in one of the six eligible counties. (Kansas: Wyandotte, Johnson; Missouri: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte)
  • Be income eligible. (FASFA Student Aid Index of 12,000 or less)
  • Have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree.
  • Have not previously been awarded a KC Scholars Scholarship (Traditional or Adult Learner).
  • Is not currently enrolled in a Great Jobs KC Skills Training Program.
  • US Citizenship/Residency is not required to apply.

If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE

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Jimmy Swift - Chief Operating Officer

As the Chief Operating Officer, Jimmy Swift is responsible for overseeing our core programs, our adult workforce development program, Great Jobs KC tuition-free job training, and our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, which includes 11th Grade Traditional Scholarships and Adult Learner Scholarships. 

Jimmy has a career in education that spans more than 25 years and is built around supporting and improving the performance of career training programs and leading the operations of degree-granting institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and has served as Campus President, Vice President of Career Services, and Executive Director of various career schools.  

Most recently, Jimmy served as the Vice President of PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies, bringing access to job skill training to the parents and families of the Scholars served by Phalen Leadership schools across the country.  Beyond his higher education experience, Jimmy serves as the Executive Board Chairman for Project Safety Net NY, a nonprofit community-based agency delivering a broad range of health, education, and prevention services to the New York Community. As the Chief Operating Officer for Great Jobs KC, he and his team are poised to make a substantial impact on the economic stability and future of Kansas City.

Great Jobs KC
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