BUTLER TWP — Rich Heckert admits the program sounds too good to be true, but he said there isn't a catch.

Heckert is touring Butler County announcing a federal program that lets qualified young people attend Butler County Community College, tuition-free.

The college partnered with the Pittsburgh Jobs Corps to offer the program, in which about 500 students are currently participating at Community College of Allegheny County, Heckert said.

Students ages 17 to 24 who meet income guidelines and are legal United States residents are eligible to receive the cost of tuition, fees, and books, clothing allowances, gas cards and stipends. When a student completes the program, he or she gets a cash bonus of $1,200.

The program is offered for students in applied arts, business, health-related, computer and information technology, social services and science and engineering fields.

New and current students are eligible. Heckert said he is targeting students who are already enrolled at the college because it is so near the start of school. He visited high schools earlier this month.

Students attending the campuses in Butler and Cranberry townships are eligible. Heckert said the program is not offered at the Lawrence and Mercer campuses.

While in the program, students need to maintain full-time status, a 2.0 GPA and stay drug-free. Students may continue for a bachelor's degree at another school.

"I think that it's a great opportunity for students who may not have family support or thought college was out of reach," said BC3 director of admissions Patty Bajuszik.

Heckert said that the government operates the program so students can become employed taxpayers.

Because it is close to the start of the fall semester, Bajuszik said she expects only 40 to 50 students to participate this year. Heckert said the number of participants and the types of qualified programs will expand in coming years.

Interested students may learn more at an open house at 1 p.m. July 16 at Founders Hall on the BC3 main campus. The open house will last about an hour. The application process takes about three hours.

Students who are unable to attend the open house can make an appointment for a July 22 session at the PA Career Link building in Butler.

To make reservations for either session, call Job Corps at 800-392-8805 or Heckert at 412-471-6123.