News Release
US Department of Labor announces $50M grant funding availability to help close equity gaps, expand access to training needed for good-paying jobs
WASHINGTON – To bolster community colleges’ and other institutions’ efforts to deliver more equitable education and training, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of a $50 million funding opportunity to help people in marginalized and underrepresented populations overcome barriers to the career and technical education programs they need to be connected to good-paying jobs.
Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, this third round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training grants will enable community colleges – individually or collectively – to address equity gaps and meet the skills development needs of employers and workers more effectively.
The department will award grants of up to $1.6 million for single institutions and up to $5 million for consortiums, with up to $5 million designated to fund at least one affinity consortium grant. This round of funding is being made available immediately. The department is soliciting applications for the third round through an amendment to the second round of the SCC grants funding opportunity announcement.
Similar to the second round of SCC grants, the third funding round will concentrate on the capacity of community colleges to increase access to educational and economic opportunity equitably. To increase access, grant applicants will focus on specific equity gaps that impact students’ ability to develop skills, quickly learn new skills and gain employment in quality jobs.
The department will give special consideration to applications submitted by Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Minority-Serving Institutions Programs or Strengthening Institutions Programs using the U.S. Department of Education’s eligibility indicators.
