Click here for full Project Description and Guidelines
Summary
Initiative Name: Sustainable College-Employer Partnerships
Written Application Due Date: April 10, 2026
Application Decisions Announced: By May 2026
Project Launch: June 2026
Project Duration: June 2026 through November 2028
Eligible Applicants: Any community college or technical college in the United States may apply. Successful applicants must actively participate throughout the duration of the cohort period. Preference given to ATD network colleges and those located within JPMorganChase Markets (see appendix).
Number of Successful Applicants: Seven to Eight Pairs of a Community College and a Local Chamber of Commerce
Application Contact: Please direct any questions about this project and application to Amanda Olmstead at workforce@achievingthedream.org
Initiative Overview
Sustainable College-Employer Partnerships is a cohort-based, capacity-building initiative designed to help community colleges and chambers of commerce strengthen collaboration, align credentials with workforce demand, and expand access to work-based learning and employment opportunities.
Funded by JPMorganChase, this 2.5-year cohort-based initiative will help participating community colleges and their chamber of commerce strengthen and sustain employer engagement working in close partnership with local chambers of commerce. The 7-8 college-chamber pairs selected for this cohort will receive support from Achieving the Dream (ATD) and the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Foundation (ACCEF). Each participating college-chamber pair will form a Core Team consisting of leadership from a community college and a local chamber of commerce.
Across the grant period, June 2026 through November 2028, participating college–chamber teams will receive a combination of cohort-based learning and tailored technical assistance designed to strengthen sustainable employer partnerships.
Key Dates
Late Spring/Early Summer 2026-Virtual Kickoff Meeting
Summer 2026-Workforce Partnership Opportunity Assessment (Virtual) and Workshop
September 2026-ATD Data & Analytics Summit (In-person)
Further dates in full description linked above
Applicant Eligibility
The Sustainable College-Employer Partnerships initiative is designed for community colleges that are prepared to deepen and sustain employer engagement through formal partnerships with local chambers of commerce.
Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Apply as part of a Core Team that includes:
- One community college, and
- One local or regional chamber of commerce that actively represents employers in the region
- Demonstrate an existing or emerging relationship with the local chamber of commerce, with a shared commitment to strengthening employer engagement and workforce alignment
- Demonstrate institutional commitment and capacity to participate fully in virtual and in-person activities focused on employer-aligned credentials, work-based learning, and improving employment outcomes for students
- Commit to tracking and reporting shared outcome metrics related to work-based learning, employment, employer engagement, and business practices
- Those located within JPMorganChase Markets (please see appendix linked above for the full list).
Application Submission Guidelines
Instructions for submitting application materials
Please respond to all questions listed in Part I and Part 2 of the application. Please limit responses to each question to 300 words or fewer.
Along with your completed proposal, please include statements of support from the college president and lead from the chamber of commerce outlining 1) how this project aligns with the mission and vision of both the college and the chamber, 2) how each plans to dedicate capacity towards implementing this initiative, and 3) outlining a commitment to sustainability post grant period.
Questions can be directed to:
Amanda Olmstead, Director of Workforce Alignment, Achieving the Dream workforce@achievingthedream.org
Sustainable College-Employer Partnerships
Click here for full Project Description and Guidelines
Summary
Initiative Name: Sustainable College-Employer Partnerships
Written Application Due Date: April 10, 2026
Application Decisions Announced: By May 2026
Project Launch: June 2026
Project Duration: June 2026 through November 2028
Eligible Applicants: Any community college or technical college in the United States may apply. Successful applicants must actively participate throughout the duration of the cohort period. Preference given to ATD network colleges and those located within JPMorganChase Markets (see appendix).
Number of Successful Applicants: Seven to Eight Pairs of a Community College and a Local Chamber of Commerce
Application Contact: Please direct any questions about this project and application to Amanda Olmstead at workforce@achievingthedream.org
Initiative Overview
Sustainable College-Employer Partnerships is a cohort-based, capacity-building initiative designed to help community colleges and chambers of commerce strengthen collaboration, align credentials with workforce demand, and expand access to work-based learning and employment opportunities.
Funded by JPMorganChase, this 2.5-year cohort-based initiative will help participating community colleges and their chamber of commerce strengthen and sustain employer engagement working in close partnership with local chambers of commerce. The 7-8 college-chamber pairs selected for this cohort will receive support from Achieving the Dream (ATD) and the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Foundation (ACCEF). Each participating college-chamber pair will form a Core Team consisting of leadership from a community college and a local chamber of commerce.
Across the grant period, June 2026 through November 2028, participating college–chamber teams will receive a combination of cohort-based learning and tailored technical assistance designed to strengthen sustainable employer partnerships.
Key Dates
Late Spring/Early Summer 2026-Virtual Kickoff Meeting
Summer 2026-Workforce Partnership Opportunity Assessment (Virtual) and Workshop
September 2026-ATD Data & Analytics Summit (In-person)
Further dates in full description linked above
Applicant Eligibility
The Sustainable College-Employer Partnerships initiative is designed for community colleges that are prepared to deepen and sustain employer engagement through formal partnerships with local chambers of commerce.
Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Apply as part of a Core Team that includes:
- One community college, and
- One local or regional chamber of commerce that actively represents employers in the region
- Demonstrate an existing or emerging relationship with the local chamber of commerce, with a shared commitment to strengthening employer engagement and workforce alignment
- Demonstrate institutional commitment and capacity to participate fully in virtual and in-person activities focused on employer-aligned credentials, work-based learning, and improving employment outcomes for students
- Commit to tracking and reporting shared outcome metrics related to work-based learning, employment, employer engagement, and business practices
- Those located within JPMorganChase Markets (please see appendix linked above for the full list).
Application Submission Guidelines
Instructions for submitting application materials
Please respond to all questions listed in Part I and Part 2 of the application. Please limit responses to each question to 300 words or fewer.
Along with your completed proposal, please include statements of support from the college president and lead from the chamber of commerce outlining 1) how this project aligns with the mission and vision of both the college and the chamber, 2) how each plans to dedicate capacity towards implementing this initiative, and 3) outlining a commitment to sustainability post grant period.
Questions can be directed to:
Amanda Olmstead, Director of Workforce Alignment, Achieving the Dream workforce@achievingthedream.org