A free Commerce City program might foreshadow the demand for Workforce Pell in Colorado
Natalia Antezana fully expected Commerce City residents to embrace the opportunity for short-term, tuition-free workforce education and training at the Community College of Aurora. The city launched the temporary Commerce City Promise program last year…
Commerce City's temporary, tuition-free workforce education program, known as Commerce City Promise, has garnered excitement from residents eager to acquire new skills for better-paying jobs. The city, which launched the program using a portion of a $7.5 million federal pandemic relief grant, partnered with organizations to analyze labor market data and connect businesses with educational opportunities.
About 120 students have signed up for certificate courses in healthcare, manufacturing, and information technology that can last from four weeks to several months. Commerce City Promise provides insight into the potential demand and effort needed to connect students with Workforce Pell, a new federal program that will allow eligible students to use Pell grants for short-term training programs.
Colorado officials will soon determine which programs qualify for Workforce Pell. The program, which started in May 2025, aligns with the groundwork required for Workforce Pell, with the college collecting data on job placements for Commerce City Promise students.
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