Workforce Development Funds

About the Workforce Development Funds

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) is committed to helping industry thrive and expand in Washington State and to continue the development of a skilled workforce. The allocated resources will support the continued alignment of education and training programs with current industry practice and employee recruitment needs.

This funding is to support one-time projects that are necessary to meet changing needs and expectations of industry and/or prospective students, or to support local workforce and economic development initiatives. Successful proposals will do one or more of the following:

• Support the transition, redesign, or adjustment of workforce education and training programs to meet the changing needs and expectations of industry (e.g., new competencies, articulation agreements, career pathways, competency-based credentials, badging/micro-credentials, new technology, etc.);
• Support the transition, redesign, or adjustment of instructional programs to meet changing needs and expectations of prospective students for how instructional programs are delivered (e.g., hybrid, remote, virtual, asynchronous);
• Create, support, or streamline local workforce and economic development initiatives; and/or
• Support and expand workforce development partnerships among employers, education and training providers, and workers.

Who may apply:

• Public community and technical colleges, as defined under RCW 28B.50.030, and Centers of Excellence (COE), as codified under RCW 28B.50.902, may apply for funding.
• Colleges may submit only one application as an individual institution or as the lead institution of a consortium.
• Applications are allowed from both a Center of Excellence (COE) and, separately, from their host college.
• Applications from a COE should be in a separate OGMS application, but submitted through its host college.
  • While a COE can submit applications separately, and colleges may participate in more than one consortium, the review panel will be cautious about awarding funding for multiple projects to one institution.

Invest in Washington

Invest in Washington funding has been added to the Workforce Development Fund to meet the specifications of the Invest in Washington Account, RCW 82.85.070. Preference points will be given to projects designed to accomplish one or more of the priorities specific to manufacturing and production occupations: customized training, job skills, job readiness training, workforce professional development, and/or to assist employers with state-approved registered apprenticeship programs specifically for manufacturing and production occupations.

2026-27 Important dates

2026-27 Program Guidelines and Resources

• 2026-27 Workforce Development, High Demand, and Invest in WA Program Guidelines
• Assurances
• Budget and Equipment List (single applicant)
• Budget and Equipment List (consortium)
• Application Webinar PowerPoint Presentation
• Application Webinar Video Recording
• Q & A - updated March 12, 2026

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Impacts

Olympic College

Modernizing Welding Equipment to Meet Industry Needs

Olympic College used Workforce Development Funds to upgrade essential equipment in its Welding Technology and Manufacturing and Engineering Technology programs. The college purchased 14 Miller XMT 350 MPa multi-process welders to support student training on equipment that aligns with current industry standards – particularly in pulse welding, a technique widely used by regional employers such as Inventech Marine Solutions, Electric Boat, and SafeBoats International.

This investment ensures students in both welding and precision machining pathways gain hands-on experience with flexible, portable, and technologically advanced tools. The new equipment features auto-line power management and advanced arc control, enabling instruction on a wider range of materials and welding scenarios. This one-time project supports Olympic College’s broader mission to respond to industry needs and strengthen workforce development in the marine manufacturing and defense sectors, including partnerships with the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Notable achievements include:

Stronger Industry Relationships

• Deepened relationships with local employers in the boatbuilding and defense sectors by responding directly to employer requests for a stronger focus on aluminum welding—a skill critical for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and other key regional employers.
• Strengthened trust and credibility with advisory board members and long-standing partners by showing responsiveness to industry needs and readiness to invest in student employability.

Impact on Student Learning

• Provided students access to new pulse welding equipment for three of four terms in FY2025, directly benefiting 154 students enrolled in the Bremerton-based Welding program.
• Enabled hands-on training with industry-standard equipment, ensuring students are workplace-ready and proficient in techniques aligned with real-world employer expectations.
• Boosted student opportunities for work-based learning, industry exposure, and employment prospects by showing that the college listens to and acts on employer feedback.

Employer Confidence and Workforce Readiness

• Enhanced the college’s standing among local employers by demonstrating a clear commitment to aligning training with hiring needs.