The washington student achievement council (the state's higher education agency) is bolstering its economy by connecting jobseekers with local, quality jobs through its career pathway project,…

The Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $47 million Project Grant to the Washington Student Achievement Council to enhance the Career Connect Washington infrastructure through the Economic Adjustment Assistance program (CFDA #11.307).

The grant will support building partnerships in six in-demand industry sectors - advanced manufacturing and aerospace, construction, energy and clean technology, financial services, healthcare, and information technology and cybersecurity. Backbone organizations including the Service Employees International Union Training Fund, Washington Bankers Association, and Cleantech Alliance will coordinate labor union outreach, strategic grantmaking to sector intermediaries for program building and regional scaling, and grants for underserved worker outreach. The Department of Employment Security Washington will manage these sub-award activities. Additionally, $47M will support the Washington STEM Center in implementing equity strategies across program design and delivery. Overall, this EDA investment aims to strengthen Washington and national economic recovery by connecting jobseekers to quality local jobs through Career Connect Washington's expanded sector partnerships.

The washington student achievement council (the state's higher education agency) is bolstering its economy by connecting jobseekers with local, quality jobs through its career pathway project, career connect washington (CCW), which supports the state's largest industries. CCW is a coalition of industry, organized labor, state government and other stakeholders. Several major washington employers have signed letters of commitment including kaiser permanente, providence, becu, and mckinstry. EDA's investment in the washington jobs initiative will enhance the CCW infrastructure by building sectoral partnerships in six high-demand sectors: advanced manufacturing and aerospace; construction; energy and clean technology; financial services; healthcare, and information technology and cybersecurity. Backbone organizations include but are not limited to seiu's training fund, washington bankers association, and cleantech alliance. These new partnerships are designed to place washington residents into jobs and strengthen the state's and the nation's economic recovery.