Congressman Bell Announces Over $10 Million in Workforce Development Funding for St. Louis Community College

September 30, 2026 Press Release Today, Congressman Bell announced $10,798,968 in federal funds for the Junior College District of St. Louis to expand its workforce training opportunities The funding is part of the U.S. Department of Labor's Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants Program Previously, Congressman Bell worked at the Florissant Valley Community College campus, which is part of the Junior College District of St. Louis Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Wesley Bell (D-MO-01) announced over $10 million in federal funding for the Junior College District of St. Louis (St. Louis Community College). $10,798,968 in funding will go to the St. Louis Community College, helping ensure the effective development and expansion of new workforce development programs. "St. Louis Community College does incredible work preparing people for in-demand jobs, and this investment will help them reach even more people. I'm proud to see these resources come to our region," said Congressman Bell. Congressman Bell has long championed workforce development programs and has made it a priority to support such efforts in Congress. Earlier this year, Rep. Bell introduced the Building Reentry and Inclusive Development for Greater Employment (BRIDGE) Act , which aims to strengthen the workforce by expanding pathways to economic mobility and employment for justice-impacted individuals and opportunity youth. Additionally, Congressman Bell has worked to expand workforce pipeline programs across key St. Louis industries, including defense, healthcare, and education. These funds are part of $65 million in nationwide Department of Labor workforce grants to help people access job-training programs and earn credentials for in-demand careers. Specifically, these federal dollars make up the sixth round of the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants, which aims to build community colleges’ capacity to meet the skill development needs of employers and support students in obtaining good jobs in in-demand industries.