Job Skills Program (JSP) Grant

43 Years of Impact

The Job Skills Program (JSP) – started in 1983 to enhance economic development through short-term customized training – is now 43 years old. From 2,256 employees trained in the biennium 1983-1985, the program has grown and trained more than 81,000 employees in Washington State. 

About the Program

Job Skills grants are distributed to all corners of the state, including rural areas. They primarily serve areas where: 

• There is a shortage of skilled labor to meet businesses’ needs 
• Upgrading employee skills is necessary to avoid layoffs 
• New businesses or industry clusters need a skilled labor pool 
• Communities struggle with high unemployment 

The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges administers the Job Skills Program with guidance from an advisory committee made up of representatives from business, labor and public and private educational institutions. A subcommittee meets to review, provide input, and recommend applications for the grants. Representatives of the Department of Commerce and the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board also participate in the review process. 

The program awards grants to licensed educational institutions in Washington. JSP funds half of the training cost. Partner employers provide cash or in-kind match to fund the other half. Funds are awarded on a first-approved, rolling basis throughout the fiscal year. 

2025-2026 Important Dates

2025-26 Program Guidelines and Resources

The following documents provide detailed information about how grant funds can be used, who can apply, the application process and deadlines.

• 2025-26 JSP Program and Fiscal Guidelines
• 2025-26 JSP Assurances
• Applicant Webinar Recording
• Applicant Webinar Slides
• Application Questions and Answers
• 2025-26 Trainee, Match, Courses, and Final Report spreadsheet (Updated Feb 2026) - A final report summarizing the outcomes(s) for this grant is required of all JSP projects. Reports must be uploaded in OGMS to the "Attachments" section of each approved grant application. See the list of important dates for deadlines.

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Impacts

Custom Source Woodworking

“"The Job Skills grant has improved our organization by minimizing errors through real-time tracking and enhancing the visibility of critical tasks. It has refined our methods for tackling significant issues, offering practical strategies that have streamlined operations and increased productivity. Additionally, it has helped departmental collaboration, effectively addressed growth and profitability challenges and ensured long-term success across our organization." 
- Joe Wadsworth, Chief Executive Officer

Custom Source Woodworking is a second-chance employer working with the Department of Corrections, allowing those with a history of carceral involvement an opportunity to train for a career without judgment. The purpose of this project was to train employees how to:

• leverage their ERP’s task management system more completely
• strategically plan for change
• decrease their inventory and use old stock more effectively
• standardize job tasks, so they are repeatable and so that job roles are defined
• plan for upcoming/possible change within the organization at all levels
• verify and adjust plant layout and flow using Lean principles 

Notable outcomes include:

• Completed 10,668 training hours for 23 employees.
• Promoted four employees.
• Exceeded goal in reducing labor costs, from 23% to 14.5%.
• Accomplished throughput goal, from $14,800 to $17,500.

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Reports to Legislature

Job Skills Program reports are submitted by the State Board for Community and Technical colleges to the Washington State Legislature in fulfillment of RCW 28C.04.420 Job skills program — Grants — Reports.

• 2023-25 Job Skills progress report
• 2023-25 Job Skills biennial report

Reports from prior years are available upon request.