U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced 32 grant awards in the Good Jobs Challenge to industry-led workforce training partnerships around the nation Aug. 3.
The Economic Development Administration of the Commerce Department oversees the program, which gives local governments around the nation the opportunity to engage in creative workforce development strategies that will create job opportunities for more than 50,000 Americans, according to a news release.
“A trained workforce is essential to ensuring that the United States can compete and succeed in the 21st century,” Raimondo said, according to the release.
She said the funding will help workers find jobs in 15 key industries that are essential for global competitiveness, U.S. supply chains and regional development and will increase the supply of trained workers, the release said.
American Rescue Plan funding enabled the Commerce Department to make these once-in-a-generation investments to create high-quality jobs. Locally-led workforce systems will use the funding to accelerate regional economic growth, especially for underserved communities, Raimondo said in the release.
Employer leadership and hiring commitments get prioritized in the Good Jobs Challenge, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said. The department knows those priorities “are critical to expanding career opportunities for more Americans to reach their full potential and secure good jobs, leading to a stronger regional and national economy,” he said, according to the release.
