(KNZA)--Highland Community College Adult Education has been awarded a $139,000 grant from the Patterson Family Foundation to expand education and workforce opportunities for adults in rural northeast Kansas.

The grant will support Highland’s Rural Pathways to Opportunity initiative, helping remove barriers such as transportation, childcare, and limited access to educational resources.

The program will provide adult learners with opportunities to earn a GED, improve academic and workforce skills, gain industry-recognized credentials, and prepare for employment or further education.

For more than 40 years, Highland Community College Adult Education has served communities across the region with programs including GED preparation, English language learning, workforce training, and career readiness.

Officials say the grant will help more rural Kansans access education and career pathways while strengthening the local workforce.