U.S. Department of Commerce Awards UnidosUS $11.4 Million Good Jobs Challenge Grant

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The award, funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, is the largest government grant ever received by UnidosUS 

Washington DC—Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, was awarded a four-year, $11.4 million grant as part of the $500 million Good Jobs Challenge funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. 

The Good Jobs Challenge grants, administered by the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration, will support workforce development programs that will place over 50,000 Americans in quality, family-sustaining jobs. 

“UnidosUS is honored to have been selected as the recipient of a Good Jobs Challenge grant,” said UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía. “I want to thank Secretary Gina Raimondo and Assistant Secretary Alejandra Castillo for their commitment to providing high-quality job opportunities for Americans, and for this major investment in the future of the Latino community and our country. By including organizations that support diverse, underserved communities that have been hardest hit by COVID-19, the Biden-Harris administration is underscoring the fact that America is better when everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.” 

UnidosUS was one of 32 awardees selected from a competitive pool of 509 applications. This is the largest government grant that has ever been received by UnidosUS. 

“A trained workforce is essential to ensuring that the United States can compete and succeed in the 21st century,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan, the Commerce Department is able to make once-in-a-generation investments in industry-driven, and locally-led workforce systems that will create high-quality jobs and accelerate regional economic growth, especially for underserved communities.” 

The Good Jobs Challenge will get Americans back to work by establishing or strengthening regional workforce systems to train workers with in-demand skills through sectoral partnerships. As a result of the Good Jobs Challenge award, UnidosUS has the opportunity to work with two Affiliates serving as regional leads: 

“By integrating industry in every step of the talent development process, these awardees are focused on supporting underserved communities in diverse areas across the country, helping to remove systemic barriers for workers and connecting employers with the trained workforce they need to grow and sustain competitive local economies,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo.