DOL Awards More than $111M to Expand Regional Job Training
The grants will support tuition-free programs for industry-specific skills
The DOL has announced more than $111 million in America’s Promise grants to 23 regional partnerships that will connect more than 21,000 Americans to education and jobs, according to a report. The grants are designed to accelerate the development and expansion of regional workforce partnerships committed to skilled workers.
“These grants are part of the Obama administration’s unprecedented investment in education and training programs that have helped to create more pathways to the middle class for millions of Americans,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “By encouraging regional collaboration and delivering on the promise of tuition-free training at community colleges, these grants will help strengthen local communities across America, and ensure that employees and employers alike are able to compete and thrive in today’s global economy.”
The grants will focus on four key areas: Increasing opportunities for all Americans through tuition-free training for middle-to high-skilled occupations, expanding employer involvement in the design and delivery of education and training, utilizing evidence-based strategies to increase college completion and employability, and leveraging additional public, private and foundation resources to scale and sustain proven strategies.