MEMBER ADVISORY

March 7, 2022

U.S. Department of Labor announces Community College Training Grant Program

On March 2, 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced $45 million in funding availability to help people in marginalized and underrepresented populations overcome barriers to access career and technical education programs that can help connect them with good-paying jobs. To view the funding notice and apply please visit the official announcement page here.

The Department’s Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant program will allow public and state institutions of higher education and community colleges – individually or collectively – to improve their ability to address equity gaps and meet the skills development needs of employers and workers. The department will award grants of up to $1.6 million for single institutions and up to $5 million for consortiums, with up to $5 million designated to fund at least one affinity consortium grant.

To increase access to educational and economic opportunities – particularly for individuals from historically underrepresented and marginalized populations – the department will give special consideration to applications submitted by Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Minority-Serving Institutions Programs or Strengthening Institutions Programs using the U.S. Department of Education’s eligibility indicators.

DOL has also held a webinar series on Exploring Equity Gap Interventions at Community Colleges, which highlights current research exploring how community colleges can better measure equity in their programs and improve employment-related outcomes for historically marginalized groups. To view sessions held during this series click here.

HACU Member Advisories are a service of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)