The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the availability of the final $450 million installment of grants under its Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training initiative. Grant awards will help expand the capacity of community colleges to provide accessible training programs that connect people to available jobs in growing industries in their communities.
Previous grantees have leveraged strong partnerships between community colleges, the workforce system, employers and industry groups to transform the way they design and deliver courses through accelerated learning strategies; redesigned curricula; distance learning; work-based training, such as Registered Apprenticeships; and innovative uses of technology to enhance learning activities. This solicitation continues to promote these strategies.
Single institutions may apply for grants of up to $2.5 million and consortia of institutions within the same state or among institutions that share an economic region may apply for grants up to $15 million. Eligible applicants include community colleges and other public, proprietary or nonprofit educational institutions that offer programs that can be completed in two years and are accredited by an agency or association recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The deadline to apply is July 7, 2014.
The final round of grants will place a priority on three additional goals by making additional funding available to those applicants who propose to:
- develop partnerships with national industry groups or employers to scale strategies across the country;
- engage employers, educators, Registered Apprenticeships and the workforce system to support the development or expansion of state career pathways systems; or
- improve the integration of state employment and education data.