U.S. Department of Labor Announces Availability of $40 Million In Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the availability of $40 million in Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants to expand community colleges’ ability to meet labor market demand for a skilled workforce.

Community colleges are essential partners of the public workforce system for retraining the workforce and building a pipeline of workers in healthcare, logistics, cybersecurity and other industries. The Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants aim to address the skill development needs of employers and to support workers in gaining skills and transitioning quickly from unemployment to employment. The grants also build the capacity of community colleges to address challenges associated with the coronavirus health crisis, such as expanding online and technology-enabled learning, and migrating services to a virtual environment.  

“Community colleges are well-positioned to support the economic recovery and help the country’s robust economy return,” said Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training John Pallasch. “These funds will strengthen colleges’ ability to make innovative changes in training our nation’s workforce that will make a difference immediately and can be sustained over the long-haul.”

Community colleges may apply for funding as a single institution to undertake capacity building at one institution, as a consortium of colleges in one state or across one or more community college districts in a state. The Department expects to fund approximately eight to 16 grants of up to $2 million for single institutions and up to $5 million for consortium applicants.

The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is Oct. 8, 2020. Applications must be received no later than 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

ETA administers federal job training and dislocated worker programs, federal grants to states for public employment service programs and unemployment insurance benefits. These services are provided primarily through state and local workforce development systems.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.