WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Washington Community Colleges Raking in Federal Grants

Community Colleges in Washington are bringing in new federal dollars – to the tune of more than $12 million – to strengthen and expand workforce training programs in the state.

The majority of that money, $10 million, was won by an alliance of different community and technical colleges to fund the Washington Integrated Sector Employment program. The new endeavor will cross-train individuals in several emerging industries in the Pacific Northwest: advanced manufacturing, clean technology and construction. It will be offered at college across the state, including Seattle, Shoreline, Everett, Green River, Renton, Centralia, and Walla Walla.

The remaining $2.5 million was given to Clover Park Technical College to develop a workforce-oriented curriculum in advanced manufacturing and industrial technology, geared towards workers who have been out of the workplace for an extended period of time.

The grants were award under the competitive “Trade Adjustment and Assistance Community College and Career Training” initiative administered by the Department of Labor. The program, established by President Obama’s stimulus package in 2009, is in its fourth year and has given out almost $2 billion to community colleges all over the country. It is set to expire after this round of grant-giving.