Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants Program

To date, the Department of Labor (DOL) has issued four rounds of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants. Across all four rounds, 170 colleges, including leads and consortia members, are addressing major workforce priorities for employers and workers in their 31 states and local communities.

General Resources

Funding Opportunity Announcements - Round Five

On July 18, 2024, the Labor Department announced the availability of approximately $65 million in grant funds for the fifth round of the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (referred to as SCC5). Applications are due September 24, 2024. 

Like the previous round, this grant program aims to build community colleges’ capacity to meet the skill development needs of employers and equitably support students in obtaining good jobs in in-demand industries. Sector-based career pathways programs, which evidence shows support employment outcomes, are foundational to the grant program.

For SCC5, priority consideration will be given to applicants that align their identified career pathway with relevant in-demand infrastructure sectors related to the Administration’s Investing in America Agenda. DOL intends to award at least one grant to a Tribally Controlled College if one or more applications of acceptable quality from otherwise eligible Tribally Controlled Colleges is received.

Lead applicants and consortium members from Round 4 may not apply as lead applicants or consortium members for Round 5. Grantees and consortium members receiving grants in Rounds 1-3 may apply as long as they propose a different industry sector. 

For more information about the DOL Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (Round 5) please see the following:

Current Grant Programs

Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants – Round Four

This grant program aims to build community colleges’ capacity to meet the skill development needs of employers and equitably support students in obtaining good jobs in in-demand industries. Sector-based career pathways programs, which evidence shows support employment outcomes, are foundational to the grant program.

In April 2024, DOL awarded $65 million in SCC4 grants to 16 colleges. This funding will support a total of 41 colleges, including 16 lead institutions and an additional 25 consortia members. These colleges will work in multiple sectors, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, IT, and infrastructure-related sectors like construction, transportation, broadband expansion, and renewable energy. Grantees announced will receive $55 million in initial funding. Following a feasibility study, a subset of grantees will be identified to participate in an impact evaluation, and those grantees will share the remaining $10 million in funding, which will be awarded in the fall of 2024.

For more information about SCC4 Training Grants, please see:

Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants – Round Three

The third round of the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants Program (SCC3) aims to help people in marginalized and underrepresented populations overcome barriers to career and technical education programs they need to connect with quality jobs.

In February 2023, DOL awarded $50 million in SCC3 grants to 15 community colleges, including eight consortium grants and seven single institution grants in 14 states.  The industry sectors represented by grants include healthcare, advanced manufacturing, information technology, clean energy, and education. 

SCC3 used the same Funding Opportunity Announcement as SCC2, per Amendment Two below. 

For more information about SCC3 Training Grants, please see:

SCC3 prospective applicants and others were encouraged to review the following resources:

Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants – Round Two

The second round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (SCC2) aims to help people in marginalized and underrepresented populations overcome barriers to career and technical education programs they need to connect with quality jobs.

In September 2022, DOL awarded $45 million in SCC2 grants to 13 community colleges, including seven consortium grants and six single institution grants in 12 states.  Industry sectors represented among grants include Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare, Information Technology (including Cybersecurity), Supply Chain, and Construction. 

For more information about SCC2 Training Grants, please see:

Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants – Round One

The first round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (referred to as Strengthening Community Colleges or SCC1) builds the capacity of community colleges to collaborate with employers and the public workforce development system to meet local and regional labor market demand for a skilled workforce.  The grants also build the capacity of community colleges to address challenges associated with the COVID-19 health crisis, such as expanding online and technology-enabled learning and migrating services to a virtual environment. 

In January 2021, DOL awarded $40 million in grants to 11 community colleges, including seven consortium grants and four single institution grants in 10 states.  Industry sectors represented among grants include Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare, Information Technology (including Cybersecurity), and others. 

For more information about current SCC1 Training Grants, please see:

For questions about the current SCC program (only), please email us.