While this is a small grant ($12,000 over 3 years), I’m happy to see funding for this topic of education for workers over the age of 50. Deadline is March 4, 2011.

The American Association of Community Colleges Program: Plus 50 Completion Strategy Grants seeks proposals from community colleges committed to enhancing or expanding their existing programs for students 50 years of age and older—particularly those who have earned prior college credits without earning a credential—to ensure that they obtain the degrees, certificates, and not-for-credit credentials sought by employers in high-demand, high-growth fields.

The grant will support career development and other support services that foster completion; redesigning programs to meet specific needs such as offering noncredit and credit, compressed, fast-tracked, or accelerated courses; recruiting and reaching out to the plus 50 population; offering professional development to faculty to enhance their effectiveness in working with plus 50 students; assessing prior learning; capturing previously earned credits; establishing or enhancing collaboration and partnerships with local employers; increasing access to college for plus 50 students (e; g; , making accommodations for job or transportation challenges to class attendance).