At the KC Coalition for Digital Inclusion May Meeting, panelists from Great Jobs KC, Johnson County Community College, and the Full Employment Council weigh in on Workforce Pell’s potential for Kansas City.
Written by Peter Arvanitakis, edited by Leslie Scott.
May 1, 2026 – The KC Coalition for Digital Inclusion’s May meeting covered broadband infrastructure updates from Missouri and Kansas, followed by a panel discussion on Workforce Pell, new legislation expanding Pell Grant eligibility to short-term workforce training programs. Panelists included representatives from the National Skills Coalition, Full Employment Council, Johnson County Community College, and Great Jobs KC.
Featured Content: Panel on Workforce Pell and Braided Funding for Workforce Development
Panelists:
- Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, National Skills Coalition
- Andrea Robins, Full Employment Council
- Elisa Waldman, Johnson County Community College
- Jimmy Swift, Great Jobs KC
- George Hudson, Great Jobs KC
Workforce Pell Overview
Amanda Bergson-Shilcock of the National Skills Coalition presented an overview of Workforce Pell, which expands Pell Grant eligibility to short-term programs of 8 to 15 weeks and 150 to 600 hours. This is a permanent expansion of the Higher Education Act, signed into law as part of the budget reconciliation package and expands the Pell Grant that traditionally only programs that are a minimum of 600 hours can qualify for.
Colleges and universities can receive funds directly, and up to 25% can be sub-granted to nonprofits as subcontractors, including for digital literacy training. Funding becomes available July 1, with full implementation expected to roll out over 3 to 5 years. Amanda recommended that digital inclusion organizations begin gathering information to advise participants, explore partnerships with higher education institutions, and analyze participant data to identify potential candidates.
More information on the U.S. Department of Education’s website here: https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-issues-proposed-rules-implement-working-families-tax-cuts-acts-workforce-pell-grants
Providing resources about the implementation of Workforce Pell is a major initiative of the National Skills Coalition. You can find their publications at https://nationalskillscoalition.org/resource/publications/making-the-most-of-workforce-pell.
Implementation: JCCC’s Perspective
Elisa Waldman of Johnson County Community College outlined the implementation realities for institutions. Programs must receive state governor approval and meet high-skill, high-wage occupation criteria, along with 70% completion and job placement rates. Workforce Pell cannot be used simultaneously with traditional Pell Grants but is available to individuals with existing degrees seeking a career change. Elisa emphasized that braided funding that combines financial support from other sources will be essential given the complexity of these requirements.
Full Employment Council
Andrea Robins described how Full Employment Council (FEC) career centers, serving multiple counties with a focus on in-demand occupations, can help bridge funding gaps for higher-skilled training programs. The FEC is positioned to assist participants with Pell Grant applications and provide wrap around support for those entering training.
Great Jobs KC
Jimmy Swift and George Hudson presented Great Jobs KC’s workforce development model. The organization has served over 5,000 students, with more than 3,000 now employed and a 66% completion rate. They work with over 62 employer partners and more than 40 training programs representing more than 100 pathways. Great Jobs KC sees Workforce Pell as an opportunity to braid funding with training partners, covering more tuition costs upstream and freeing their resources for wraparound support like transportation, technology, and childcare. Community college partners, as Title IV institutions, are well positioned to access Workforce Pell directly on behalf of shared students.
Digital Literacy and Ecosystem Coordination
The group discussed digital literacy as an underlying barrier to Workforce Pell access, particularly for participants who need help completing online applications for training programs and benefits. Members explored ways to better coordinate across organizations, avoid duplication, and share best practices for guiding applicants through digital barriers.
Other Partner Updates
Missouri reported that BEAD grant agreements are being shared with approximately 30 awarded providers, with ARPA-funded activities ongoing. Kansas shared that its 13 BEAD subgrantees are progressing toward executing awards ahead of a July 7 NTIA deadline and announced a new $16.3 million broadband acceleration grant program. Both states are awaiting NTIA guidance on non-deployment fund uses.
Want to get involved?
Visit kcdigitaldrive.org to learn more or watch past meetings. Membership is free. Join us for the next meeting, which will be virtual on June 5, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to noon via Zoom. If you’re not yet on the distribution list, contact Leslie Scott at lscott@kcdigitaldrive.org to be added.