The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded $1.7 million to Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC) to expand the institution’s capacity to provide training to meet the needs of business and industry and put graduates to work. This grant is a portion of the $65 million the Department has awarded 16 colleges in 14 states.
Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, this round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants will support individual community colleges, as well as consortia of colleges, to prepare students for jobs that pay family-sustaining wages and offer career development opportunities based on the Good Jobs Principles developed by the departments of Labor and Commerce in 2022. Grantees will work with industry stakeholders to identify the workforce needs of multiple employers within a selected industry in the labor market area.
According to Acting President Jennifer Lindon, SKCTC will implement The GEO Project: Generating Energy Optimization to enhance four critical renewable energy sector-based career pathways: electrical technology, automotive technology, and transportation. The target audience will consist of future college students, dislocated workers, employed workers, and new entrants into the workforce.
“We are honored that SKCTC is receiving these funds, and we are grateful for the opportunity it gives our students,” said Dr. Lindon. “Pursuing this grant was a joint effort between SKCTC workforce and academics, and I am proud of everyone who contributed.”
“Strengthening Community Colleges grants will help connect people to good jobs and employers to the people they need,” said Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “The Department of Labor is awarding funding today that will help community colleges equip workers with the skills they need right now, and that will strengthen workforce infrastructure in their respective communities.”
This funding will support a total of 41 colleges, including 16 lead institutions and an additional 25 consortia members. These colleges will work in multiple sectors, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, IT, and infrastructure-related sectors like construction, transportation, broadband expansion, and renewable energy.  Across the four rounds of grants to date, 170 colleges, including leads and consortia members, are addressing major workforce priorities for employers and workers in their 31 states and local communities.
Grantees announced this week will receive approximately $55 million in funding now. Following a feasibility study, a subset of grantees will be identified to participate in an evaluation study. Those grantees will share the remaining $10 million in funding, to be awarded this fall.