The grant could provide up to $5,750,000.
The fourth round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (SCC4) will increase the capacity and responsiveness of community colleges to meet the skill development needs of employers and equitably support students in obtaining good jobs in in-demand industries. Applicants will use strategies rooted in evidence and designed to build further evidence on the effectiveness of sector-based career pathways programs in leading to positive employment outcomes. These strategies will also address identified equity gaps to increase full access to educational and economic opportunity-particularly for individuals from historically underserved communities. The lead applicant of an SCC Partnership must be a community college that is a public institution as defined in Section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act, and at which the associate degree is primarily the highest degree awarded. The lead may apply as a single institution or as a consortium of two or more colleges in a common labor market area. Consortium members may include community colleges and public and private, non-profit four-year institutions, as defined in Section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act. Institutions that were funded in the first three rounds of SCC as either leads or consortium members may apply as leads or consortium members under this fourth round if they focus on a different industry sector than in prior rounds. Employers and the public workforce development system are required partners for all projects, which must also include a sector convener partner unless the lead or another partner serves in that role. Partnerships with unions or labor-management organizations are encouraged in support of good jobs. Partnerships with community-based organizations, adult education providers, and tribal entities, as relevant, are encouraged in support of equitable employment outcomes in good jobs. Questions regarding this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Forecast may be emailed to SCC4_FOA-ETA-23-15@dol.gov. We encourage prospective applicants and interested parties to use the Grants.gov subscription option to register for future updates provided for this particular FOA.