Job Skills Program (JSP) Grant
Contacts
Megan Harper
Program Administrator
mharper@sbctc.edu
360-704-3907
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.
2026-27 Important Dates
| Milestones | Key Dates |
|---|---|
| FY27 Round 1 Funds available/grant start | July 1, 2026 |
| FY27 Final budget revision deadline | June 15, 2027 |
| FY27 Final report deadline | July 10, 2027 |
| FY27 Final invoice deadline | July 15, 2027 |
2026-27 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.
- 2026-27 JSP Program and Fiscal Guidelines
- 2026-27 JSP Assurances
- Applicant Webinar Recording
- Applicant Webinar Slide Presentation
- Questions & Answers - updated Apr. 23, 2026
- 2026-27 Trainee, Match, Courses, and Final Report spreadsheet
Impacts
Aquagga
"In a fast-paced startup environment, individuals are often promoted rapidly into
leadership positions and often rapidly assume high levels of responsibility within
the organization. The JSP grant allowed us to bring in highly professional and skilled
trainers to upskill our team's collective management, team formation, and conscious
leadership skills, enabling us to build a more high-functioning and high-performing
team. This has directly contributed to our recent successes in groundbreaking PFAS
destruction projects." - Brian Pinkard, Co-Founder & CTO
Aquagga has developed a device that will remove chemicals from other bases, separating the parts and placing the contaminates in a disposable format. The company is currently working with the US Department of Defense, one of the largest users of firefighting foam, to help remove and mitigate the spread of PFAS chemicals into the environment.
As part of their growth and development plan, they must expand their skills in both business and technical/light manufacturing operations rapidly and safely. The purpose of the associated training is to quickly accelerate the knowledge and know-how of the team as they go through the continual growth phases and expansion. Aquagga is mostly made up of PhD engineers that are strong in their field but need training and guidance in both safety and financial/business aspects.
Notable outcomes, as culled from the company's FY24 final report, include:
- Completed 2,486 training hours for 22 employees.
- Promoted two employees and hired three, with two additional hires in progress.
- 81% of staff have obtained at least one skill or certification.
- 10% wage increase set to occur in January 2025.
- Reduced research and development contracts from 80% to 60% per quarter; shifted to regular contracts.
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.
Reports from prior years are available upon request.
