Job Skills Program (JSP) Grant

Update

Note: The FY26 round 1 grant applications are now closed. We will conduct a funding survey in October to assess the possibility of allocating additional funds to projects.

40 Years of Impact

The Job Skills Program (JSP) – started in 1983 to enhance economic development through short-term customized training – is now 40 years old. From 2,256 employees trained in the biennium 1983-1985, the program has grown and trained more than 75,000 employees in Washington State.

For the biennium 2021-2023, JSP awarded grants to 126 projects and, in partnership with community colleges, completed training for 8,163 employees. The graphs below describe the businesses that benefited from JSP funding.

JSP Grant Distribution across Washington State

Size of Businesses Served by JSP Grants for FY 21-23

 

Grants by Industry for FY 21-23

The industry count is based on the best match for businesses participating in each project. For consortia projects, the industry count is based on the business partner with the biggest number of employees.

The manufacturing sector is composed of businesses engaged in aerospace, food production and processing, wood/paper products production, naval, high tech, auto, composites, marine, transportation, medical devices, chemicals, electronics, pharmaceutical, and handbags production.

Non-manufacturing related include businesses in agriculture, construction, retail/wholesale, hospitals and medical services, environmental services, gaming and hospitality, and non-profit. 

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. Applications are reviewed by a standing sub-committee of the Workforce Training Customer Advisory Committee.

Impacts

HDT Bio

“The DFARS-CMMC Training Project we received under the JSP grant offered us significant insights into the NIST security standards and process. As a biotechnology startup, the training helped us build a roadmap to enhance our cybersecurity infrastructure, safeguard sensitive data, and meet the robust security requirements of government contracts, thereby expanding our market opportunities and establishing credibility within the defense sector." - Christopher Pirie, COO

This project was designed to help HDT Bio attain its NIST 800-171 compliance (Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations), to meet their customer's Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) requirements around CUI and for overall Cybersecurity sustainability. The project received high accolades from the CEO and grant manager and is deemed a great success accomplished in a very short time. Notable outcomes include:

• Completed 96 training hours for 9 employees.
• Met Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements to retain 100% of current contracts.
• Training met to retain 100% of current market share and ability to pursue expansion.

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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
• 2025-26 Trainee, Match, Course, and Outcomes Spreadsheet
• Applicant Webinar Recording
• Applicant Webinar Slides
• Application Questions and Answers

Final Grant Report

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.

• 2025-26 Trainee, Match, Courses, and Final Report spreadsheet

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
• 2021-23 Job Skills biennial report
• 2019-21 Job Skills biennial report

Reports from prior years are available upon request.