The U.S. Department of Labor made $45 million available for people from marginalized and underrepresented populations to access career and technical education programs to help connect them with good-paying jobs.
The Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants announced March 2 will enable public and state universities and community colleges to improve how they address equity gaps and meet the skills development needs of employers and workers, the department said.
“These efforts align with the Biden-Harris administration’s vision to build the capacity of community colleges and other public and state institutions of higher education that serve large numbers of underrepresented populations to deliver in-demand skills training through strategic partnerships between industry, education, labor and the workforce system,” the department said.
The pandemic reportedly worsened disparities in economic outcomes across racial, ethnic and gender lines.
The department will award grants of up to $1.6 million for single institutions. At least one grant for a consortium of institutions of $5 million is planned.
Special consideration will be given to historically Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities, minority-serving institutions or strengthening institutions under the U.S. Department of Education’s eligibility indicators. This will enable the grants to increase access to educational and economic opportunities for these historically underrepresented populations, the department said.
The grants come from the department's Employment and Training Administration.
