Workforce Pell

The Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) has been awarded a federal grant through the U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) to serve as a regional hub for Workforce Pell, helping seven colleges in Southeast Michigan design, validate, and scale short-term workforce programs eligible for the new federal Workforce Pell Grants.

The initiative will expand access to a new federal funding source for unemployed and underemployed adults while supporting employers’ urgent demand for skilled talent across Southeast Michigan.

Workforce Pell extends Pell Grant eligibility to high-quality, short-term training programs, allowing learners to use federal financial aid for programs lasting as little as 8 to 15 weeks. WIN’s project will help colleges ensure their programs meet Workforce Pell eligibility requirements, opening the door to more affordable, faster pathways to employment. 

As the backbone organization for the project, WIN will provide technical assistance, quality assurance, and coordination to help partner colleges:

• Align short-term programs with Workforce Pell eligibility standards
• Integrate employer-validated competencies and assessments
• Document program quality, outcomes, and compliance
• Prepare programs to sustainably access Pell funding for short-term training

By centralizing expertise and tools, WIN will reduce the burden on individual institutions and accelerate the region’s ability to deliver Pell-eligible workforce programs at scale.

For additional information, contact WIN at info@winintelligence.org.

View the award press release from WIN by clicking here. 

Resources: 

• Federal Register: Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand-Driven Workforce Pell: Pell Grant Exclusion Relating to Other Grant Aid; and Workforce Pell Grants
• State of Michigan Workforce Pell Information and Application
• Fact Sheet: Trump Administration Implements Workforce Pell Grant Provisions of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act 

Contact Information:
Laurie Huber, laurie.huber@winintelligence.org
Katie Webber, katie.webber@winintelligence.org