To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants to community colleges for high-quality workforce development programs.
This bill amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to create a new program—the Strengthening Community Colleges Workforce Development Grants Program—designed to support community colleges in building and expanding high-quality workforce development programs. The aim is to help students earn recognized postsecondary credentials that are portable and stackable for in-demand, high-skill, high-wage industries. Grants would be awarded competitively to eligible institutions (community colleges or related postsecondary institutions or consortia) and would require strong employer partnerships, alignment with local labor markets, and robust program design that includes career services and access to necessary supports for students. The bill would authorize $65 million per year (2026–2031) for these grants, set an administrative cap (up to 2% of funds for administration and required technical assistance/evaluation), and place several conditions on how funds are used, how performance is measured, and how results are reported. Grants could last up to 4 years for an initial award and could be renewed for up to additional 4-year periods if performance targets are met. A strong emphasis is placed on equity (prioritizing individuals with barriers to employment and incumbent workers needing foundational skills), competency-based credit for prior learning, and alignment with state/local workforce and educational plans.
Key Points
- 1Establishment of a new Strengthening Community Colleges Workforce Development Grants Program under Subtitle D of title I of WIOA, with the purpose of creating, improving, or expanding high-quality, evidence-based workforce development programs at community colleges and helping students earn portable, stackable credentials in in-demand sectors.
- 2Funding and administration: Competitive grants awarded to eligible institutions from amounts appropriated for this section, with up to 2% reserved for administration (including outreach, assistance to rural or high-barrier institutions, and program evaluation). Authorized appropriations total $65 million annually for FY 2026–2031.
- 3Application requirements and priorities: Eligible institutions must partner with employers in in-demand sectors, include real-time labor market data, demonstrate arrangements to place graduates into work, show potential for leveraging funds and sustaining programs, and outline high-quality program design and pathways. Priority is given to serving people with barriers to employment, incumbent workers needing foundational skills, credit for prior learning, and inclusion of career education programs on relevant state training provider lists.
- 4Use of funds and program design: Funds must be used to establish, improve, or expand high-quality workforce programs, provide career services (navigation, coaching, case management, access to materials/devices), and publish accessible information about curricula, credentials, careers, and outcomes. Additional activities can include credential transfers, remediation, dual enrollment, competency-based education, and planning to become an eligible training provider. Equipment purchases are capped at 15% of funds; there is also a focus on reducing unmet financial need for participants. An administrative cost limit of 7% applies.
- 5Performance framework and oversight: The Secretary must set performance levels using primary workforce indicators, plus capacity-building metrics (employer engagement, adoption of new instructional techniques/tech, system alignment), and credential attainment/completion outcomes. Institutions receive annual performance reviews; if they fail to meet targets, they receive technical assistance and a corrective improvement plan. An evaluation is required within four years of the first grant, with elements assessing program effectiveness, employer engagement, credentialing, alignment with workforce systems, and equitable access. Data from evaluation must be publicly accessible in aggregated form, with interim and final reporting to Congress and to the public.
- 6Definitions and safeguards: The bill defines “community college” and “eligible institution” to include community colleges, postsecondary vocational institutions, and consortia of such colleges/institutions. It also includes a “Supplement Not Supplant” clause to ensure funds supplement, not replace, existing public funding.