US Department of Labor awards $65M to help community colleges increase access to affordable, high-quality training, improve equitable outcomes

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $65 million in grants to 18 colleges in 14 states to support programs that help community colleges scale affordable, high-quality workforce training to meet employers’ and workers’ skill development needs in critical industry sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, semiconductors and biotechnology. 

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the 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. This funding will harness the unique strengths of community college partnerships to drive broad, lasting improvements within the system. 

“The Biden-Harris administration is investing in training programs that end in a job, rather than a job search,” said Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “Our Strengthening Community Colleges grantees run programs that help lift whole communities, like by helping community colleges equip workers with the skills they need right now, while strengthening workforce infrastructure. This is how we fundamentally shift workforce training programs to better invest in improving the lives of America’s workers.”

The Strengthening Community Colleges grants announced today will support 18 lead institutions, including a Tribally Controlled College, a Historically Black College and University, and 5 Hispanic Serving Institutions, as well as 23 consortia members. Grantees will provide training across multiple sectors, many of which align with the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda, such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, IT, agriculture and infrastructure-related sectors, including transportation and broadband. 

Through five rounds of grants to date, the department has invested $265 million, allowing 207 colleges in 35 states to address major workforce priorities for employers and workers in their respective states and local communities. 

The department awarded Strengthening Community Colleges grants to the following recipients: