Another program of the “Investing in America’s Communities” initiative, the “Good Jobs Challenge” provides $500 million in grant funds to focus on collaborative skills training systems and programs that bring together employers with hiring needs and other entities that train workers with in-demand skills. Preference will be given to programs that reach historically underserved populations and areas, women, and groups facing labor market barriers such as persons with disabilities, disconnected youth, individuals in recovery, and individuals with past criminal records. Preference will also be given to programs that train veterans and military spouses and individuals participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program. Tribal Nations and consortiums are included among those eligible to apply for this program but they must be a System Lead Entity of a regional workforce system or the Backbone Organization of a sectoral partnership as a lead applicant. If a Tribal Nation or consortium does not meet these eligibility criteria, then they must partner with states, state political subdivisions, or institutions of higher education to receive these funds.

Details regarding this webinar are as follows—

• Date/Time: Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 2:00pm ET
• Click Here to Register

The application deadline will be January 26, 2022. Questions regarding this program should be directed to GoodJobsChallenge@eda.gov. Contact information for your Economic Development Representative can be found by clicking here. For more information on the Good Jobs Challenge, please click here.