New Federal Grant to Empower Arizona’s Workforce
YUMA, AZ (November 2, 2022) – In a significant move to bolster Arizona’s workforce, a federal grant is set to provide crucial resources for individuals affected by long-term unemployment, job displacement, and the pandemic. This initiative aims to enhance job skills, offer career pathways, and create job opportunities across the state.
The Arizona Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy, and Training (QUEST) coalition, which includes the Arizona Commerce Authority, several community colleges, and Arizona@Work, received a generous $15 million grant from the Department of Labor. This collaborative effort will benefit workforce development areas in Cochise, Maricopa, Mohave/La Paz, Pima, Yavapai, and Yuma counties.
Key contributors to securing the grant were Arizona Western College and the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, both instrumental in the process.
As jobs expand in our state, we are dedicated to ensuring that all workers have the opportunity to fully participate in the workforce,
said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. As the pandemic displaced workers, the ACA along with our partners in industry, academia, workforce development and more stepped in to provide critical employment support services. These dollars will allow us to redouble those efforts and help more people find employment that enables them to thrive.
Arizona Western College is proud to have taken a lead role in partnership with Arizona Commerce Authority in securing this grant. As one of 10 community college districts around the state poised to provide workforce development and help workers rebound, AWC is very proud to have played an integral role in the dynamic expansion of Arizona’s economy in recent years,
said Dr. Daniel Corr, President of Arizona Western College. These funds will provide an opportunity for thousands of more Arizonans to prepare for high wage, high skill jobs, through your community colleges.
Eligibility and Targeted Industries
The Arizona QUEST program is tailored for those who have lost jobs or are marginalized, including individuals without a high school diploma, those living in poverty, English Language Learners, disconnected youth (ages 16-24), migrant workers, Native Americans, people in rural areas, those with criminal justice interactions, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
Eligibility extends to:
- Workers laid off due to COVID-19, whether temporarily or permanently;
- Individuals facing long-term unemployment;
- Dislocated workers; and
- Self-employed people who are now unemployed or underemployed because of the pandemic.
The program aims to prepare participants for high-demand sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, and professional and business services like legal, accounting, and computer systems design.
Program Deployment
The grant will facilitate the strengthening and expansion of partnerships between ARIZONA@WORK, industry, and community colleges.
Supported initiatives include:
- Tuition assistance
- Career pathways
- Job search and placement assistance
- Apprenticeships
- Support services and referrals
- Job fairs and recruitment events
For more details on workforce support in Arizona or to connect with a local specialist, visit: https://arizonaatwork.com/.
Media Contact
Alyssa Tufts, Arizona Commerce Authority, [email protected]
About the Arizona Commerce Authority
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) leads economic development in the state with a focus on growth and strengthening the economy. Using a strategic approach, the ACA works to attract out-of-state businesses, support existing ones to expand, and foster new business creation in key industries. For further information, visit azcommerce.com and follow @azcommerce on Twitter.
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