U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $8.4 Million for Healthcare Workforce Training in South Carolina Through American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding an $8.4 million American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge grant to Charleston Chamber Foundation, Charleston, South Carolina, for the Lowcountry Healthcare Careers Collaborative, which promotes inclusive and equitable growth in the region through healthcare training programs.

These programs will train a diverse coalition of healthcare workers in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. By partnering with local advocacy organizations and employers, this project aims to ignite inclusive and equitable growth in the region that is equally beneficial to local industry, economy, and workers.

“President Biden is committed to creating a strong, resilient American workforce to propel our nation’s economy into the 21st century,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This healthcare industry training program is bringing together community organizations and employers to design worker-centric systems to support the South Carolina economy.”

“The Economic Development Administration works closely with communities to support locally-led economic development strategies,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “The Lowcountry Healthcare Careers Collaborative will support growth and development of the healthcare industry in South Carolina by training a diverse coalition of healthcare workers and partnering with local employers to facilitate job placements.

“I am pleased to see the Economic Development Administration provide essential funding to help ensure healthcare providers in South Carolina have additional resources to support and train a diverse group of healthcare workers in the Lowcountry,” said Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06). “This funding addresses important issues in the sixth district while having a transformative impact on the local economy and workers in underrepresented communities.”

This grant is funded through the American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge. The program awarded grants to 32 worker-centered, industry-led workforce training partnerships across the country. The $500 million program is expanding opportunities for more Americans to access and secure good-paying jobs by investing in innovative approaches to advance worker-centered, industry-led workforce training partnerships.

The 32 awardee projects were selected from a competitive pool of 509 applicants. By partnering with stakeholders such as labor unions, community colleges and industry, these projects will solve for local talent needs, increase the supply of trained workers and help workers secure jobs in 15 key industries that are essential to U.S. supply chains, global competitiveness, and regional development. Through a holistic, integrated partnership approach, these projects will provide tangible opportunities and security for American workers, focusing on serving and supporting a broad range of underserved communities and connecting workers with the training, skills, and support services needed to successfully secure a good job. For more information on the grantees, please visit our fact sheet. (PDF)

The Good Jobs Challenge is part of a suite of American Rescue Plan programs developed by EDA to equitably distribute its $3 billion allocation to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build a better America by accelerating economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be more resilient to future economic shocks.

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.