Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA ETA 26 40

  • The Employment and Training Administration in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (Round 6)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 17.280.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2026-02-17.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,800,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
Apply for FOA ETA 26 40

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Opportunity Summary:

The Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (Round 6), often referred to as SCC6, is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA). The central purpose of this round is to help community colleges build the programmatic and system-level capacity needed to implement and scale short-term training options that can be supported through Workforce Pell Grants. In practical terms, the funding is aimed at helping colleges expand access to high-quality, short-duration credential programs that connect clearly to jobs, respond to employer demand, and create real pathways for worker mobility, including advancement into better-paying roles and continued education.

A defining feature of this round is its singular focus on readiness and scalability for Workforce Pell Grant-supported training. That means applicants should expect an emphasis on the infrastructure behind short-term programs, not just launching isolated courses. The opportunity highlights industry-driven strategies, which generally implies that training should be shaped by labor market needs and employer input, aligned to in-demand occupations, and designed to lead to recognized credentials. It also stresses integration with the broader state workforce system for statewide impact. The announcement explicitly references partnership and alignment with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) partners, signaling that proposals will likely be stronger when they show how the college will coordinate with the local and state workforce ecosystem, such as American Job Centers, workforce boards, and related training and support service providers.

Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, which typically includes public community colleges and similar public postsecondary entities. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is Employment, Labor and Training under CFDA 17.280. The program is competitive, with an expectation of around 10 awards. The maximum award amount listed is $10,800,000 per award, indicating that ETA is prepared to fund large-scale efforts that can drive meaningful system change, expand training capacity, and potentially influence statewide approaches to short-term credentialing and workforce alignment.

Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number FOA ETA 26 40 and an original application closing date of May 20, 2026. The opportunity record indicates it was created on February 17, 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor Grants.gov and use the subscription feature for updates tied to this specific FOA, which is important because federal opportunities often include amendments, clarifications, or additional guidance after initial posting. For direct questions about the Funding Opportunity Announcement, the contact provided is Sarah Medley, reachable by email at SCC6FOA-ETA-26-40@dol.gov. For full requirements, application instructions, and any additional eligibility or program design expectations, applicants are directed to consult the official FOA text.

Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (Round 6) (SCC6) - FAQs

What is the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (Round 6) (SCC6) opportunity?

SCC6 is a discretionary, competitive federal grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA). This round focuses on helping community colleges strengthen the capacity needed to implement and scale short-term training options that can be supported through Workforce Pell Grants.

What is the main purpose of SCC6 funding?

The central purpose is to help community colleges build programmatic and system-level capacity to expand access to high-quality, short-duration credential programs. These programs are expected to connect clearly to jobs, respond to employer demand, and support worker mobility, including advancement into better-paying roles and continued education.

What makes Round 6 different from other rounds or other training grants?

A defining feature of SCC6 is its singular emphasis on readiness and scalability for Workforce Pell Grant-supported training. The focus is not just on launching individual courses, but on the infrastructure and systems that allow short-term training programs to be implemented, scaled, and sustained.

What kinds of training programs does SCC6 aim to support?

The funding is aimed at short-term, high-quality credential programs that align to jobs, are shaped by labor market needs and employer input, and lead to recognized credentials. The overall intent is to support training that has clear workforce outcomes and meaningful advancement pathways.

Is SCC6 focused on developing new courses, or building broader college capacity?

Based on the description provided, SCC6 emphasizes the programmatic and system-level capacity needed to implement and scale short-term training options. This suggests a strong focus on the underlying infrastructure that supports scalable training, rather than only creating isolated or stand-alone courses.

How important is alignment with Workforce Pell Grants in this round?

Alignment with Workforce Pell Grant-supported training is central to SCC6. The opportunity explicitly describes readiness and scalability for Workforce Pell as the defining focus of this round, so proposals should expect this to be a major emphasis.

What does "industry-driven strategies" mean in the context of SCC6?

The opportunity highlights industry-driven strategies, generally meaning that training should be shaped by employer input and labor market needs, aligned to in-demand occupations, and designed to lead to recognized credentials that have value in the labor market.

Does SCC6 encourage partnerships with the public workforce system?

Yes. The opportunity stresses integration with the broader state workforce system for statewide impact and explicitly references partnership and alignment with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) partners. Proposals may be stronger when they show coordination with entities such as American Job Centers, workforce boards, and related training and support service providers.

Who is eligible to apply for SCC6?

Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. This typically includes public community colleges and similar public postsecondary entities.

What federal agency is offering this grant?

The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), specifically the Employment and Training Administration (ETA).

What type of funding instrument is SCC6?

The funding instrument is a grant.

What is the program or activity category associated with this opportunity?

The activity category is Employment, Labor and Training, under CFDA 17.280.

Is SCC6 a competitive grant program?

Yes. SCC6 is described as competitive, with an expectation of around 10 awards.

How many awards are expected under SCC6?

The opportunity indicates an expectation of around 10 awards.

What is the maximum award amount for SCC6?

The maximum award amount listed is $10,800,000 per award.

What is the funding opportunity number (FOA) for SCC6?

The funding opportunity number is FOA ETA 26 40.

When is the application deadline for SCC6?

The original application closing date listed is May 20, 2026.

When was the opportunity record created?

The opportunity record indicates it was created on February 17, 2026.

Where should applicants look for official updates or amendments?

Applicants are encouraged to monitor Grants.gov and use the subscription feature for updates tied to this specific FOA. This is important because federal opportunities may include amendments, clarifications, or additional guidance after initial posting.

Who can applicants contact with questions about the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)?

The contact listed for FOA questions is Sarah Medley. The email provided is SCC6FOA-ETA-26-40@dol.gov.

Where can applicants find the full requirements and application instructions?

Applicants are directed to consult the official FOA text for full requirements, application instructions, and any additional eligibility or program design expectations.

What outcomes or longer-term impacts does SCC6 aim to support?

The opportunity emphasizes expanding access to job-connected short-term credentials and supporting worker mobility, including advancement into better-paying roles and continued education. It also stresses statewide impact through integration with the broader state workforce system.

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