Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants Program

To date, the Department of Labor (DOL) has issued five rounds of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants. Across all five rounds, 207 colleges, including leads and consortia members, are addressing major workforce priorities for employers and workers in their 35 states and local communities.

General Resources

Funding Opportunity Announcements 

None at present.

Current Grant Programs

Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants – Round Five (SCC5)

This grant program aims to build community colleges’ capacity to meet the skill development needs of employers and support students in obtaining good jobs in in-demand industries. Sector-based career pathways programs, which evidence shows support employment outcomes, are foundational to the grant program.

In December 2024, DOL awarded $65 million in SCC5 grants to 18 colleges. This funding will support a total of 41 colleges, including 18 lead institutions and an additional 23 consortia members. These colleges will work in multiple sectors, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, IT, agriculture and infrastructure-related sectors, including transportation and broadband. 

For more information about SCC5 Training Grants, please see:

Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants – Round Four (SCC4)

This grant program aims to build community colleges’ capacity to meet the skill development needs of employers and support students in obtaining good jobs in in-demand industries. Sector-based career pathways programs, which evidence shows support employment outcomes, are foundational to the grant program.

In April 2024, DOL awarded $65 million in SCC4 grants to 16 colleges. This funding supports 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. Grantees announced received $55 million in initial funding. Following a feasibility study, a subset of grantees was identified to participate in an impact or outcomes evaluation, and those grantees shared the remaining $10 million in funding, which was awarded in the fall of 2024.

For more information about SCC4 Training Grants, please see:

Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants – Round Three (SCC3)

The third round of the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants Program aims to help students overcome barriers to career and technical education programs they need to connect with quality jobs.

In February 2023, DOL awarded $50 million in SCC3 grants to 15 community colleges, including eight consortium grants and seven single institution grants in 14 states. The industry sectors represented by grants include healthcare, advanced manufacturing, information technology, clean energy, and education. 

SCC3 used the same Funding Opportunity Announcement as SCC2, per Amendment Two below. 

For more information about SCC3 Training Grants, please see:

Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants – Round Two (SCC2)

The second round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants aims to help students overcome barriers to career and technical education programs they need to connect with quality jobs.

In September 2022, DOL awarded $45 million in SCC2 grants to 13 community colleges, including seven consortium grants and six single institution grants in 12 states. Industry sectors represented among grants include Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare, Information Technology (including Cybersecurity), Supply Chain, and Construction. 

For more information about SCC2 Training Grants, please see:

Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants – Round One (SCC1)

The first round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (referred to as Strengthening Community Colleges or SCC1) built the capacity of community colleges to collaborate with employers and the public workforce development system to meet local and regional labor market demand for a skilled workforce. The grants also build the capacity of community colleges to address challenges associated with the COVID-19 health crisis, such as expanding online and technology-enabled learning and migrating services to a virtual environment. 

In January 2021, DOL awarded $40 million in grants to 11 community colleges, including seven consortium grants and four single institution grants in 10 states. Industry sectors represented among grants include Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare, Information Technology (including Cybersecurity), and others. Most of the grants ended January 31, 2025.  

For more information about current SCC1 Training Grants, please see: