UH earns $16M federal grant to assist in sustainable workforce development

Healthcare training (credit: UH Community Colleges)

Technology training (credit: UH Community Colleges)

The University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges have been awarded a $16.4-million grant from the U.S Department of Commerce to establish a sustainable, regional workforce training system. The ''Resilient Hawai‘i: Good Jobs Challenge’’ initiative is a three-year project that will create economic resilience and prosperity for Hawai‘i by investing in four industry sectors:

• Clean energy

• Creative industries

• Healthcare

• Technology

The initiative will train thousands of workers statewide in the sectors identified as priorities for the state and counties, and will have a focus on Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities to help provide equitable participation.

“In collaboration with employers, industry associations and community partners statewide, the Resilient Hawai‘i initiative will assist individuals whose employment opportunities were disrupted by COVID-19,” said UH President David Lassner. “UH is grateful for the support of our Congressional delegation, Gov. David Ige and all of our mayors for this amazing project that will connect residents throughout the islands with employer-driven training that leads to quality careers in sectors critical to Hawaiʻi’s future.”

Through a coalition of more than 70 employers, training providers, community-based organizations and key stakeholders, Resilient Hawai‘i will develop, design and implement workforce development programs to get Hawai‘i’s residents back to work or to increase their skills for new employment in “good jobs.” Sector partnerships will bring together Hawai‘i’s employers to translate their skills-needs into training programs, certifications, and/or on-the-job training opportunities. 

Resilient Hawai‘i will support the training and wraparound support costs for participants and leverage various federal, state, city/county, and philanthropic resources including the Hana Career Pathways (uhcc.hawaii.edu/training), Oʻahu Back To Work, and federal and state programs administered under the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Workforce Development Division. The three-year initiative will train 3,000 participants and aims to place at least 75% of those completing the programs into good jobs.

Hawaiʻi congressional leaders played an important role in advocating for UHʻs application and commended the  initiative. 

“By investing in workforce training programs in health care, technology, and clean energy, this new federal funding will connect industries that need workers with people who need jobs and help grow our local economy,” said U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz..

“Democrats in Congress passed the American Rescue Plan to deliver investments in our community, and that’s exactly what this Good Jobs Challenge grant will do,” said U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono. “This grant will enable the University of Hawai‘i and its partners to strengthen Hawai‘i’s economy in some of our most important industries while building a robust workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and equipping students with the skills they need to secure good jobs after graduation. I am glad that this funding will be used to create job opportunities for underserved populations and boost our local economy.”

The training programs will be based out of UHʻs seven community colleges, providing statewide access to Hawaiʻi residents in all four counties: 

• Hawaiʻi Community College

• Honolulu Community College

• Kapi‘olani Community College

• Kaua‘i Community College

• Leeward Community College 

• Windward Community College

• UH Maui College