The Nevada Governor's Mansion in Carson City
Nevada Appeal Capitol Bureau
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Gov. Steve Sisolak has set aside $5 million in federal pandemic money toward finding ways to make community college and apprenticeship training programs free for more Nevadans.
Sisolak announced that plan in his State of the State address, handing the job to the Workforce Development Committee and asking that panel to come up with a plan by 2025. He said the commitment expands the existing programs, including the Nevada Promise Scholarship.
The Promise Scholarship allows certain high school graduates to attend community college at a substantially reduced cost.
In a statement, he said the American Rescue Plan money will “kick start” initial recommendations from the committee.
“We know that skills training is essential to our workers and businesses,” he said. “A high school education isn’t enough and we should recognize that it’s no longer preschool through grade 12 but at least preschool through community college or other post-high school training.”
The Workforce Development Committee was created after the 2021 Legislature to match workforce training efforts to the needs of the state.
The committee has to follow the rules laid out by the federal rescue plan act, but Sisolak said the panel could also make community college funding recommendations to the 2023 Legislature.
