# DOL Awards $65M Workforce Pell Grants

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) awarded **$65 million** in Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants on September 23, 2026, to consortia across seven states including Colorado, Iowa, and Mississippi. These grants support the development and expansion of short-term training programs eligible for Workforce Pell Grants, targeting high-demand sectors such as artificial intelligence infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and shipbuilding. The initiative aims to enhance workforce skills aligned with employer hiring needs and improve worker mobility.

- The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) administers these federal grants, emphasizing community college partnerships to deliver industry-driven training.
- Procurement professionals should note the focus on scalable, sector-specific training programs that may require collaboration with educational institutions and technology providers.
- Contractors and workforce development organizations can leverage this funding to expand program offerings in AI and manufacturing sectors.
- This funding signals continued federal investment in workforce skill development aligned with emerging technology and manufacturing demands, presenting opportunities for program development and service delivery contracts.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Education
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** September 24, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Labor
- Employment and Training Administration (ETA)

### Key Quotes
> Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are building an industry-driven education and workforce system that prepares Americans for the new, high-skilled, high-paying private-sector jobs his Administration is creating.
> — Keith Sonderling, Acting Secretary of Labor

### Sources
- [US Department of Labor awards $65M to develop, expand access to training opportunities through Workforce Pell Grants | U.S. Department of Labor](https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20260923) - DOL