Department of Labor announces availability of $65M in grants to expand access to training needed for good-paying jobs in high-demand industries

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $65 million in funding to increase community colleges’ ability to provide equitable access to training to meet employers’ and workers’ skill development needs for in-demand industries.

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the latest round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants will enhance career pathway programs using strategies rooted in evidence. Successful applicants will use the diverse strengths of their community college’s partnerships to accomplish and sustain systems change. A national impact evaluation of grantees will also be conducted to assess the grant program’s strategies.   

“Community colleges help to bridge skills gaps and create career pathways to quality jobs,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Brent Parton. “The funding availability announced today will help community colleges provide the education and training students need to have equitable opportunities to secure family-sustaining jobs and will address the talent needs in regional labor markets.” 

In the fourth round of funding, the Strengthening Community Colleges Training grants will concentrate on the capacity of community colleges to address identified equity gaps to increase access to educational and economic opportunities for dislocated workers and new entrants to the workforce, as well as employed workers seeking to advance in their careers, particularly for individuals from historically underserved communities.

The department will award initial grants of up to $1.75 million for single institutions and up to $5.75 million for consortium applicants. Using evidence-based strategies and other measures, a subset of colleges will participate in a planned impact evaluation to assess employment outcomes. The department will award additional funding to grantees chosen for the national impact evaluation, and they will have extra time to complete the grant project. 

Learn about and apply for Strengthening Community College Grants.