Illinois, Michigan and Pennsylvania this week awarded millions of dollars in grants tocommunity colleges to boost workforce programs, help adults reconnect with college and support campus upgrades.
Expanding advanced manufacturing
More than $20 million in capital grants are going to five Illinois community colleges to establish Manufacturing Training Academies (MTAs) on campuses. The grants were awarded through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
The academies will prepare people for careers in advanced manufacturing while helping employers find the skilled workers they need to grow and create jobs.
Kaskaskia College was awarded $6 million to establish an academy. College President George Evans called the grant “transformational.”
“For the first time in our history, we will have a facility built specifically around the education and training needs of manufacturing and the skilled trades,” Evans said. “The KC Manufacturing Academy will give our faculty the space, technology and resources to take hands-on learning to an entirely new level while allowing us to adapt as industry and workforce needs continue to change.”
And a $6 million grant to Parkland College will support expanded welding and fabrication programming, dedicated biomanufacturing laboratories and increased capacity for industrial maintenance, automation and process controls training.
“Amid the evolving manufacturing industry needs, we look forward to this expansion to the college’s campus and being part of teaching the next generation of leaders in manufacturing,” Parkland President Pam Lau said.
The other grantee colleges are Illinois Central College, Lake Land College and Lewis and Clark Community College.
Helping adults connect with college
In Michigan, nearly $1.8 million has been awarded to six colleges to increase college enrollment among current and potential Michigan Reconnect applicants.
The Reconnect Enroll with Momentum Grants were awarded through the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). They’ll support strategies that address barriers preventing adults from starting, renewing or persisting in their postsecondary education.
“These grants give colleges the opportunity to identify and remove barriers that can keep adults from taking that next step, while creating stronger connections between education, careers and the needs of Michigan communities,”MiLEAP Executive DirectorBeverly Walker-Griffea said.
Each college will receive up to $300,000 over the two-year grant period to implement strategies tailored to the needs of adult learners in their communities. Monroe County Community College, for example, will use its grant funding to strengthen partnerships with local jails, shelters and community organizations. The college also will provide adults from historically underserved populations with an advocate and access coach to help address barriers and navigate the enrollment process.
Another grantee, Muskegon Community College, will expand its partnership with Greater Muskegon Economic Development to increase outreach, provide on-site credit for prior learning support and develop clearer pathways for translating industry credentials into academic credit.
Other grant recipients includes Jackson College and Montcalm and Oakland community colleges.
Supporting campus upgrades
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced Wednesday more than $25.4 million in grants to 14 community colleges across the state to support facility improvements and upgrades to improve campus life for learners.
“Community colleges open doors for Pennsylvanians at every stage of life, whether they are earning a first credential, preparing for a career, or continuing their education,” Pennsylvania Secretary of EducationCarrie Rowe said in a statement.
Grants range from $50,000 to $4.25 million.
Many of the grants are being used for infrastructure improvement projects. Delaware County Community College, for example, was awarded two grants: $4.25 million for HVAC replacement at its Marple Campus and $1.1 million for the replacement of server/network equipment. Lehigh Carbon Community College will use a $950,000 grant for road resurfacing at its main campus and a $200,000 grant to replace the roof on the Morgan Center.
Some grants will be used to upgrade specific classrooms and workforce training facilities. Community College of Allegheny County will use a $3.9 million grant for renovations to its Public Safety Training Institute. With a $1.6 million grant, Community College of Philadelphia will renovate its Nursing Skills & Surgical Technology Lab.
“Community colleges open doors for Pennsylvanians at every stage of life, whether they are earning a first credential, preparing for a career, or continuing their education,” Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Carrie Rowe said. “When we invest in safe, modern facilities, we invest in the students who learn there, the educators who teach there, and the communities and employers that depend on them.”
