The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration today announced that Washington has won a $23.5 million Good Jobs Challenge grant to support Washington’s robust career connected training system serving thousands of students across the state. These apprenticeship and technical training programs are a significant part of the state’s efforts to connect students to work-based learning programs that lead to paid work experience and good-paying jobs. The state’s Washington Student Achievement Council, in collaboration with Career Connect Washington, was among 32 grant recipients selected from a pool of more than 500 applications. The Good Jobs Challenge grant will help CCW and its partners immediately serve 5,000 workers whose jobs were impacted by COVID-19 and fill a minimum of 3,000 jobs.
Their proposed Washington Jobs Initiative builds upon CCW’s efforts in six high-demand sectors:
Advanced manufacturing and aerospace
Construction
Energy and clean technology
Financial services
Healthcare
Information technology and cybersecurity
Several of the sectors include training for union membership jobs. Examples of jobs in the program include software developer, machinist, energy engineer, nursing assistant and construction manager.
The Washington Jobs Initiative also includes a detailed focus on equity and diversity. Through targeted outreach in partnership with 200 community based organizations, the Washington Jobs Initiative hopes to achieve more equitable outcomes for workers of color, Indigenous workers, low-income workers, rural workers, workers experienc …