U.S. Department of Labor Announces Job Corps Scholars Grant Program

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a new Job Corps demonstration project to provide at-risk youth with job skills instruction, educational opportunities, and individualized employment counseling through the establishment of the Job Corps Scholars Program. 

"The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to helping young individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds receive high-quality vocational and academic instruction opportunities. This demonstration project will help the Department assess the effectiveness of different approaches to ultimately empower more students to learn relevant skills for in-demand jobs," said Molly E. Conway, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training.

Under the Job Corps Scholars Program, the Department intends to competitively award up to 20 grants to accredited, two-year, public community colleges; accredited, public two- and four-year historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs); and accredited tribal colleges and universities (TCUs). The program will use eligible colleges and universities to provide skills instruction and career pathway support to identified and enrolled Job Corps eligible students while giving students the opportunity to earn academic credit hours.  Grantees will use the grant funds to pay for the tuition of the Job Corps Scholars, hire personal and career counselors, and hire employment counselors. 

The Job Corps Scholars Program is expected to serve 1,600 students with vocational training over the course of 2 years.