Commerce City and the Community College of Aurora announced a partnership this week to engage city residents in free education in a variety of fields to help bolster the city’s workforce and help its residents advance their careers.

The program, called Commerce City Promise, provides free short-term credentialed programs in high-demand industries, including information technology, construction, logistics, healthcare, manufacturing and English as a second language, according to a press release from Community College of Aurora.

Commerce City Promise is funded through the city’s Advancing Commerce City Together program, which invests $7.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act money to support residents and businesses through programs that support things like community wellbeing, housing assistance and infrastructure improvements.

City Manager Jason Rogers said building a strong and skilled workforce is “essential” to the city’s future.

“This program helps us invest in our residents’ futures by opening doors to higher education, better jobs, and long-term financial stability,” Rogers said. “It’s not just about meeting workforce needs, it’s about building a stronger, more prosperous community for everyone.”

The offered programs align with local workforce needs, preparing students for in-demand jobs in the area. There are a variety of available certifications students can get, including EMT basic certification, computer support technician certification and construction management certification.

Residents can apply through the Community College of Aurora website. Anyone accepted into an eligible program will automatically be enrolled in Commerce City Promise.

Mordecai Ian Brownlee, the president of the Community College of Aurora, said education is the “catalyst” for economic mobility and generational change.

“This innovative Promise Program, built in collaboration with Rocky Mountain Partnership and Gary Community Ventures, reflects our shared vision to meet the needs of Commerce City residents and help students turn possibility into reality,” Brownlee said in the press release. “This is more than a program—it’s a promise to invest in people, potential, and prosperity.”

The Community College of Aurora is at the “forefront” of career and technical education, according to the press release. This fall, the college plans to open its new Center for Applied Science and Technology, which will have “cutting-edge” technology and resources for hands-on training for students.