The Pathways to Prosperity Act would take critical steps to expand federal resources available to community and technical colleges to support partnerships between colleges and employers
WASHINGTON –U.S. Senators Mike Braun and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) introduced the Pathways to Prosperity Act. This bill is designed to strengthen America’s workforce development pipeline between community/technical colleges and good-paying jobs from local employers.
The bipartisan Pathways to Prosperity Act expands the existing Strengthening Community Colleges Grant Program. This federal program provides competitive grants to community/technical colleges to support partnerships with employers. These partnerships align workforce development programs in community/technical colleges to local industry needs. The idea is to establish, improve, or expand high-quality workforce development programs to get more Hoosiers into jobs that require skills training.
Senator Braun also authored the JOBS Act with Senator Tim Kaine which would make it possible to use Pell Grants for career and technical education programs.
“There are many good-paying jobs out there that go unfilled because of a lack of skills and career/technical training,” said Senator Mike Braun. “This bill will help close the gap and give more Hoosiers access to skills training programs that will put them on the path to a better career and higher pay for their families.”
“I tell business leaders all the time, come to Georgia; Georgia is open for business. As these new, good-paying jobs come to the Peach State, it’s important that these local jobs are filled locally. That means we need a workforce that’s trained to step into these roles,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “That’s why I’ve introduced new bipartisan legislation to strengthen our workforce development pipeline by giving technical colleges federal resources to collaborate with local industry partners to train Georgians up for the jobs coming to our state. This legislation is a win for workers who will have access to better-paying jobs; a win for businesses that will be able to find more of the workers they need where and when they need them; a win for our community and technical colleges to help keep their classrooms full; and a major win for our state’s economy that will benefit from thriving businesses and a world-class, homegrown workforce.”
Specifically, the Pathways to Prosperity Act of 2024 would provide funding to:
- Set up, enhance, or broaden the quality of educational or career training initiatives at community colleges.
- Enhance opportunities for individuals to attain nationally or regionally recognized postsecondary credentials in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations.
- Develop or scale up career training, career pathways, or work-based learning options like apprenticeships.
- Assist individuals with barriers to employment with accessing programs.
- Provide support services to help participants complete education and training.