US Department of Labor announces availability of $65 million in grants to help community colleges improve access to affordable, high-quality training

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $65 million in funding to support programs that help community colleges scale affordable, high-quality workforce training that meets employers’ and workers’ skill development needs in critical industry sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, semiconductors and biotechnology.

Acting Secretary Julie Su and White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden will officially announce the funding availability in Las Vegas at an event hosted by Workforce Connections, the Southern Nevada workforce board, as part of the department’s ongoing Good Jobs Summer Tour.

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, this fifth round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants will use proven strategies to enhance career pathway programs and support more equitable outcomes for marginalized and underrepresented populations. Funds will leverage the diverse strengths of community college partnerships to make systemic changes. 

“Community colleges are foundational institutions in ensuring a strong and competitive American workforce that stand to benefit from the opportunities created by the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda,” said Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training José Javier Rodríguez. “The Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants reflect the Department of Labor’s strategy of investing in critical sectors, our commitment to community colleges nationwide and ongoing dedication to supporting workers, their families and their employers, particularly in underserved communities.” 

The department will award initial grants of up to $1.75 million for single institutions and up to $5.75 million for individual groups of institutions and intends to award at least one grant to a Tribally controlled college. It will also continue its national impact evaluation of grantees, which began with the fourth round of grants, and identify a subset of colleges to participate in the evaluation. If chosen for this evaluation, grant recipients will receive additional funding and time to complete the grant project.

 In this round, the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants will build the capacity of community colleges to increase access to educational and economic opportunities for individuals from underserved communities. The department is placing a greater emphasis on supporting skills in critical sectors aligned with the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda. Once awarded, the department’s total investments through Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants will reach $265 million. 

Learn about and apply for Strengthening Community College Grants.