Lakeshore College receives $10,000 grant from Dollar General Literacy Foundation

Lakeshore College has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to expand adult education and English Language Learner (ELL) programming across its service area.

The award is part of a record-setting day of giving by the Foundation, which distributed nearly $16 million to support adult, family, and summer literacy programs in the 48 states where Dollar General operates.

“We are grateful to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation for its investment in adult learners across our region,” said Lakeshore College President Dr. Paul Carlsen. “This grant will help remove barriers to educational achievement by providing essential assessment tools, GED preparation resources, and workforce-focused training opportunities. It supports our commitment to helping students build skills, earn credentials, and create pathways to meaningful careers and lifelong success.”

The funding will support Lakeshore College's Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) Consortium programs, helping adult learners build academic, language, and workforce skills needed to achieve their educational and career goals.

Grant funds will be used to provide assessment tools, GED preparation resources, English language instruction, and workforce training opportunities. Specifically, the grant will fund TABE 13/14 assessments, GED Ready vouchers, instruction for Level 2 ELL students, and certification testing fees for 24 incarcerated participants enrolled in Lakeshore's SERVSafe Integrated Education and Training (IET) program.

The six-week SERVSafe IET program combines adult education, workforce preparation, and occupational training to help participants develop job-ready skills. Individuals who successfully complete the program and earn SERVSafe certification gain a recognized credential throughout the food service industry, opening pathways to employment and advancement in culinary and food-service careers.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports organizations that increase access to educational opportunities, promote innovation in literacy instruction, and inspire a love of reading. Each year, the Foundation awards grants to nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries located within 15 miles of a Dollar General store or distribution center to support adult, family, summer, and youth literacy programs. The Foundation also offers a student referral program for individuals interested in learning to read, improving English language skills, or preparing for a high school equivalency credential.