College receives Good Jobs Challenge grant through ARPA funds

August 15, 2022

Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology today announced the reception of funds through the distribution of Good Jobs Challenge grant as part of the American Rescue Plan. The nonprofit college, offering affordable education for people seeking technical and trade careers, was one of several partners awarded the funding through the City of Boston’s Office of Workforce Development.

The college will use the funds to support its clean and renewable energy educational programs to expand workforce access to its students—74% of which are students of color and 57% of which are first-generation college students—and connect the schools highly-trained, career-ready graduates to high-paying jobs in the clean tech industry.

“We are grateful to the city’s Office of Workforce Development and the Biden Administration for making this award possible,” said Dr. Aisha Francis, president & CEO of Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology. “This funding will contribute to the growth of skilled clean energy professionals educated through our Renewable Energy and Building Energy Efficiency programs. We are grateful for the added support to provide students with the skills that align with good-paying green jobs that need to be filled with a trained workforce right now.”

The college is a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) that offers certificate, associate degree, and bachelor’s degree programs in a wide variety of technical fields and trades, including Automotive Technology, Construction Management, Computer Information Technology, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Health Information Technology, HVAC&R Technology, Opticianry, and Practical Electricity.

“A trained workforce is essential to ensuring that the United States can compete and succeed in the 21st century,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan, the Commerce Department is able to make once-in-a-generation investments in industry-driven, and locally-led workforce systems that will create high-quality jobs and accelerate regional economic growth, especially for underserved communities.”

The Good Jobs Challenge is administered by the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration and will enable communities across the country to invest in innovative approaches to workforce development that will secure job opportunities for more than 50,000 Americans.

“By integrating industry in every step of the talent development process, these awardees are focused on supporting underserved communities in diverse areas across the country, helping to remove systemic barriers for workers and connecting employers with the trained workforce they need to grow and sustain competitive local economies,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)

The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.