12-16 total awardees, individual institutions of higher education or a consortium of such institutions, will be eligible for $45 million. The Department will fund applications that address, in their proposals, the following SCC core elements: advancing equity, accelerated career pathways, results-driven project design, and sustainable systems change. The purpose of the program is to addresses two inter-related needs: 1) increasing the capacity and responsiveness of community colleges to address identified equity gaps and 2) meeting the skill development needs of employers in in-demand industries and career pathways, as well as the skill development needs of marginalized and underrepresented workers. Ultimately, these grants should build the capacity of community colleges to address identified equity gaps and meet the skill development needs of employers in in-demand industries and career pathways leading to quality jobs. Applications are due June 2, 2022.

ETA announced its Growth Opportunities FOA, through which the agency will introduce and prepare justice-involved youth and young adults for the world of work through placement into paid work experiences. These grants focus on youth and young adults most impacted by community violence, particularly in areas of concentrated crime and poverty as well as communities that have recently experienced significant unrest. The goals of the grant are to: help youth and young adults to increase their conflict resolution skills and develop strategies to prevent and avoid violence; introduce and prepare youth for the world of work; help youth identify career interests, attain relevant skills and gain work experience; and provide income to youth, to start them on the path of earning living wages and obtaining high quality jobs and careers. ETA plans to fund to fund approximately 29 grants, Direct applicants may apply for up to $2 million in funding, and intermediary applicants may apply for up to $4 million. $85 million in total is available. Eligible applicants include independent school districts, nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, county governments, city or township governments, Native American tribal governments, special district governments. Applications are due April 21.

ETA announced its newest “Pathway Home” FOA, the third round of funding to help ex-offenders, both pre and post release, improve employment outcomes and reduce recidivism. This FOA builds upon previous rounds of “LEAP” award pilots which provided pre-release services through jail-based American Job Centers and linked participants to post-release services. By providing for reentry services to begin while participants are still incarcerated and to continue post-release, these projects are designed to eliminate the time gap between release from prison and enrollment into a workforce development reentry program leading to skills-based employment. These projects will serve adults aged 18 or older who have been convicted and are incarcerated with scheduled release dates within 20 to 270 days of enrollment in the program. ETA plans to award approximately 15 grants ranging from approximately $1 million up to $4 million each. Eligible applicants include CBO’s, faith based organizations, nonprofit post-secondary education institutions, and state or local governments. Applications are due April 19.

On March 11th, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law. This historic legislation was designed to enable all Americans to respond to and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

Under the American Rescue Plan, EDA was allocated $3 billion in supplemental funding to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build back better by accelerating the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be resilient to future economic shocks.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement solicits applications for the Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) grant program. This FOA supports a coordinated, national investment strategy that aims to strengthen and modernize the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) system, centered on equity and promotes Registered Apprenticeship as a workforce development solution. Applicants have the opportunity to apply for funding across four grant categories: (1) State Apprenticeship System Building and Modernization; (2) Expansion of RAP Opportunities for Youth; (3) Ensuring Equitable RAP Pathways Through Pre-Apprenticeship Leading to RAP Enrollment and Equity Partnerships; and (4) Registered Apprenticeship Hubs. The ABA grant program builds on the Department’s previous and ongoing efforts to expand and modernize Registered Apprenticeship through expanding the number of programs and apprentices, diversifying the industries that utilize Registered Apprenticeship, and increasing access to and completion of RAPs for underrepresented populations and underserved communities.