Workforce 2 You, an accelerated career training program for rural areas of Maricopa County, has completed its pilot program in Queen Creek.

On Sept. 11, the county held a ceremony in Queen Creek to recognize the first participants who completed the pilot program, which offers certifications in health care fields including medical administrative assistant and medical billing and coding.

In addition to Queen Creek, the Maricopa County Workforce Development Agency partnered with the Maricopa County Library District to provide Workforce 2 You training in Gila Bend and Wickenburg.

Brittany Conklin, public information manager for the county, said the program will continue next year, with dates and locations to be announced at a later date.

The program was funded through a $500,000 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grant provided by the Governor's Office and approved by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in November 2023.

The one-year pilot program supported youth, unemployed workers, veterans and other groups most in need of workforce services in rural areas of the county.

“Typically these programs would cost $20,000 per student, but they were free to attend, all enrollments were full and there was a waiting list for the Gila Bend program,” the county's press release said.

The Queen Creek ceremony was held at Communiversity, 21740 S. Ellsworth Road.

For more information about the County’s workforce development programs, https://bit.ly/4db4Jrk.