The U.S. Department of Labor awarded $50 million in grants to 15 community colleges in 14 states, enabling them to expand access to education and training for well-paying jobs and to meet employers’ and workers’ skill development needs.

This funding, together with $45 million awarded in September 2022, brings the total investment in the community college system to $95 million since 2022, according to a Feb. 17 news release. This allows 28 community colleges in 24 states to provide career pathways in areas such as healthcare, teaching and clean energy.

“Community colleges offer accessibility and affordability that make them great options for people in marginalized and underrepresented communities to learn the skills needed to succeed in the workforce,” Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh said in the release.

The investment aims to address the economic disparities faced by marginalized and underserved communities that have limited access to education and training, the release reported.

The funding is part of the Strengthening Community Colleges training grants, according to the release. The funds will enable the recipients to increase educational and economic opportunities for people in underrepresented communities and to design and align education and training to respond to regional and state labor market needs through accelerated learning pathways. 

The grants will allow the community colleges to tailor their curriculum to regional labor market needs, the release reported.

Walsh said the awards would help create a more inclusive and equitable workforce, as well as continue the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to investing in education programs that connect people to quality jobs, according to the release. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported full-time college graduates earned nearly twice as much each week as workers with high school diplomas, highlighting the importance of access to education and training for career pathways.