House Passes Bill to Create New Job-Training Grants for Community Colleges

With unemployment high and some employers struggling to find skilled workers, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation today that would authorize grants to support specialized job-training programs at community colleges and nonprofit organizations. The bill, which the Senate is likely to consider as part of a broader measure to renew the Workforce Investment Act, would authorize three-year grants of up to $2.5-million for “sector partnerships” among colleges, nonprofits, employers, unions, and work-force boards. Its passage comes a day before the release of a report showing that such programs improve workers’ job prospects, earnings, and access to benefits.