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Virginia Gov. hints at plan for free community college

Northam said it would be called G3 for "get skilled, get a job and give back."
Credit: AP Photo/Steve Helber
In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 file photo, Gov. Ralph Northam greets members of the Richmond 34 and other African-American leaders for a breakfast at the Governors Mansion at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. The Richmond 34 were a group of African Americans who defied segregation laws in the 1960's.

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam says he could soon be rolling out a plan for free community college tuition.

In a Wednesday announcement, the Democratic governor described a program that would allow Virginia residents to attend community colleges for free in exchange for a year spent working in public service or a high-demand field.

Northam said it would be called G3 for "get skilled, get a job and give back." He says he expects more details and a formal announcement to come in a few weeks.

The Virginian-Pilot reports Northam's proposal follows a plan he laid out while campaigning in 2017. At the time, he said the program would initially cost the state $37 million but would earn more than twice that amount back in income taxes after five years.

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