EDASC Board of Directors issues statement supporting Job Corps

The Board of Directors of the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County has released a statement in support of the Job Corps program, citing its benefit to the workforce as well as the youth who participate in the program.

Cascades Job Corps Center in Sedro-Woolley is one of the nation’s 123 Job Corps campuses providing residential career training for low-income youth. The U.S. Department of Labor moved to close all centers in May, but a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction June 25 to stop the Department of Labor from shutting down Job Corps. The injunction remains in place pending resolution of a lawsuit challenging the executive branch’s authority to shutter Job Corps because Congress officially appropriated full funding for the program through September 2026.  

“While this temporary ruling provides some breathing room for Job Corps students, workers, and supporters, there is still an on-going lawsuit to be resolved and the continuing viability of the program to be determined in 2026,” EDASC CEO John Sternlicht said. “All supporters of the vital Job Corps program should voice their thoughts to their Congressional representatives and the Department of Labor.”

The EDASC Board of Directors statement follows:

STATEMENT OF EDASC BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR’S DECISION TO CLOSE JOB CORPS CENTERS

The Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County, a 501c3 nonprofit organization performing the economic development role for Skagit County (WA), its four cities and four towns, two ports, four tribal nations, educational and nonprofit organizations, and the entire business sector, focuses on business growth and a balanced economy. In that vein, one of the biggest concerns of all employers in the region is developing an ample pipeline of skilled workers. Given the decrease in available workers brought about by current demographics, economic developers continue to work to find new avenues to train more people to fill available jobs.  

For decades, the Cascade Job Corps here in Skagit County has worked with largely at-risk youth in unique ways to forge for them pathways to prosperity through job training, preparation for higher education, and housing and stability leading to development of the “soft skills” needed for successful employment. These graduates go on to lead productive lives in gainful employment, thus avoiding more costly and disruptive downstream interventions from the justice and healthcare systems. The results speak for themselves, and many graduates cite the Job Corps program for turning their lives around. Over 83% of students who graduated between July 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025, are currently either employed, enlisted in the military, or continuing their education or training.

We strongly urge the Secretary of Labor to reverse the calamitous decision to close the Job Corps program. The proposed closure undermines years of progress in workforce and community development and wreaks havoc on the lives of the young people trying to progress to financial independence. The closure would also negatively impact our community through the loss of 100+ jobs of those engaged in training and improving the lives of these young people. We encourage others in our community and nationwide to stand up in support of our Job Corps programs and students. We all cannot afford to lose this program that creates productive, successful, and healthy lives.