Washington, D.C. – The Administration is making $500 million available to create and expand innovative partnerships between community colleges and businesses to train workers with the skills employers need. This funding is part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Community College and Career Training grant program.

The Solicitation for Grant Applications is available at http://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm and will be published in the Federal Register Monday morning. The Department of Labor awarded approximately $500 million in September 2011 in the first round of the program, announced in partnership with the Department of Education. A list of the original round of grants, organized by state, is available at http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20111409fs.htm.

The resources provided by these grants will help eligible higher education institutions partner with businesses to expand education and career training programs that can be completed in two years or less.

More information about the TAA Community College and Career Training program can be found at www.doleta.gov/taaccct. Prospective applicants are encouraged to view the online tutorial, “Grant Applications 101:  A Plain English Guide to ETA Competitive Grants,” available at http://www.workforce3one.org/page/grants_toolkit. Prospective applicants can register on www.Grants.gov.