The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded $25 million to eight grantees as part of the Good Jobs Challenge.
Initially funded by the American Rescue Plan, the Good Jobs Challenge is cumulatively investing $525 million into 40 regions across the nation. The program’s partnerships provide new opportunities and training for America’s workforce to develop in-demand skills. The program brings together diverse stakeholders including employers, labor unions, educational institutions, and community-based organizations to advance job training in key sectors.
This new round of Good Jobs awards focuses on critical and emerging technology industries. The emphasis is on empowering workers in historically overlooked and left behind communities, with half of this round of awardees based in rural communities.
“The Good Jobs Challenge underscores the intent and impact of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda by strengthening and empowering America’s workforce, securing their future, and ensuring the United States remains globally competitive,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said. “Building off its previous success, the Good Jobs Challenge is expanding into more communities across the country with a focus on industries that will define the 21st century economy. These investments will train American workers for industries of the future, empower them with the tools they need to secure good-paying jobs, and lift up regional communities that have too often been overlooked or left behind.”
The eight Good Jobs Challenge awardees selected in this round include:
• Alaska Municipal League for the natural disaster mitigation and response industry;
• City and County of Denver for the aerospace industry
• Community College Workforce Alliance in Virginia for the advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and biotechnology industry;
• Greater Akron Chamber for the polymers industry;
• Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium for the nuclear energy industry;
• Illinois Central College for the information technology industry;
• South Central Kentucky Regional Development Authority Inc. & Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce for the advanced manufacturing industry; and
• University of Rhode Island Research Foundation, Polaris MEP for the ocean technology industry.
The grantees will lead high-quality, locally led workforce training programs that create a pathway for workers to be placed into good-paying jobs.
“Training a workforce that meets industry demands is a key component to growing and strengthening local and regional economies,” Acting Assistant Secretary of Economic Development Cristina Killingsworth said. “The new Good Jobs Challenge awardees will build upon the success of our first-round grantees in putting thousands of Americans to work in industries that make our country stronger, safer, and more prosperous.”