Following a national competition that drew interest from hundreds of organizations, Strada is pleased to announce the investment of $8 million to support collaborative partnerships between educators, employers and community organizations working to prepare students of all ages for in-demand careers. The 2019 recipients are:

Bay Path University: $1.6M
Bay Path University is a private, nonprofit college known for launching the first all-women’s online college. Female students who participate in the institution’s unique Social Online University Learning (SOUL) program graduate at twice the national average. Support from Strada Education Network will scale the University’s American Women’s College SOUL program to help low- income working women earn degrees in cybersecurity and technology, qualifying them for higher- paying, in-demand jobs.

George Mason University: $1M
Grant funding will support the institution’s pioneering transfer program, ADVANCE, designed to bridge the gap between community college and a four-year degree. Participating students receive on-the-job training and coaching to create a more seamless transition from college into the world of work in collaboration with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and regional employers in the healthcare and technology industries.

Oregon State University: $774K
Funding will support the expansion of the College of Business’ successful Education to Career curricular model across first through fourth years for all 3,500 business majors. In addition to backing scholarships for low-income students recruited to the College via a partnership with Young Entrepreneurs Business Week, Strada funding will support the design of six experiential career prep courses, along with activities to advance the placement of students in mentoring and internship opportunities with a network of more than 450 employers.

Code Nation: $1.5M
A national nonprofit that equips students from under-resourced high schools with the skills, experiences, and connections that create access to high-paying careers in technology. The funding will support the delivery of tuition-free classes, mentoring, and work-based learning experiences to high school students in Greater New York City, Chicago and the San Francisco Bay area.

Community Education Coalition: $997K An Indiana-based nonprofit whose EcO network initiative is a system-building partnership of business, education and community collaboration. The Coalition works to increase educational attainment connected to high-demand jobs in Southeast Indiana. Funding will support workforce training for adult learners, especially low-income learners and Southeast Indiana’s growing Latino population. It will also expand Ivy Tech Community College Information Technology and college/career success programs.

Commonwealth Corporation Foundation:$1.01M Funding will support the design and delivery of nine online and hybrid programs, primarily in health care, as well as IT and and manufacturing for working adults and disconnected youth. The Massachusetts-based workforce development agency will bring together postsecondary institutions, training providers, and employers to design competency-based courses that will enable learners to apply previous learning as well as access new on-the-job learning experiences.

San Diego Workforce Partnership: $1.14M
Backing from Strada will enable the San Diego workforce agency to expand a successful program to train and place 500 adult and working learners from underrepresented backgrounds in data mining, business intelligence, Java programming and Front-End Web Design jobs. The workforce board will be among the first in the country to offer Income Share Agreements (ISAs).