The White House • September 10, 2019

President Trump’s message to Historically Black Colleges and Universities For over 180 years, America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have made extraordinary contributions to our country, helping bring the American Dream to millions of African-American students and many others. Today, President Donald J. Trump addressed the 2019 National HBCU Week Conference, where he pledged to keep building on his Administration’s work in support of these important institutions. “Together, we will ensure that HBCUs continue to thrive and prosper and flourish for the countless generations to come,” he said.   President Trump: We’re finally fighting for OUR forgotten communities! The success of HBCUs was a priority for the Trump Administration from day one. Barely a month after taking office, President Trump signed an Executive Order to move the Federal HBCU initiative back into the White House. From there, he made sure that agencies across his Administration were developing plans to enhance their support for HBCUs. President Trump also secured and signed legislation that added more than $100 million for scholarships, research, and centers of excellence at HBCU land grant institutions. Lifting up forgotten communities across America is the single most important agenda item for President Trump. Last week’s jobs report, for example, revealed that the African-American unemployment rate is now at its lowest level ever recorded. And new economic census data, released today, shows that America’s poverty rate just hit its lowest level since 2001. A bunch of policies helped make that happen: pro-growth tax cuts, regulatory reform, new trade deals, and so on. But one creative idea that doesn’t get enough attention is President Trump’s creation of “Opportunity Zones.” Part of the 2017 tax cuts law, Opportunity Zones drive capital investment into distressed communities across the country with tax incentives for long-term commitments. The result is a projected $100 billion in new investments across 9,000 such communities. HBCUs have a crucial role to play in this revival of the American Dream. “You have shaped American leaders, trained American legends, pioneered American innovations, empowered American workers, built American communities, and you've made all of America very proud of you and the job you've done,” President Trump said today. “My administration is determined to fight for you.” By the numbers: African-American unemployment rate hits new all-time low. More: How President Trump is lifting up America’s forgotten communities

In photos: Ivanka Trump’s push for apprenticeships Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump traveled to Alabama today to meet with students from the Robotics Tech Park, a state-of-the-art manufacturing training facility. While there, she announced that the apprenticeship program—part of Toyota’s Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME)—will be expanded across the country. “The Administration is committed to ensuring inclusive growth and opportunity in our booming economy by creating pathways for all Americans, regardless of age or background,” Ms. Trump said. “I applaud the Toyota Motor Company and Manufacturing Institute for expanding the FAME program, which will build upon the economic successes we’ve had in the manufacturing industry.” The Alabama “success story” under President Trump is remarkable, Ms. Trump tweeted. Since Election Day 2016, the state’s unemployment rate has reached an all-time low of 3.3 percent. In that time, more than 500,000 manufacturing jobs have been added, compared to 7,000 lost in 2016. “We’re just getting started,” she wrote. Today’s visit comes as part of President Trump’s Pledge to America’s Workers, a nationwide effort to get private-sector companies to commit to better training and reskilling opportunities for our country’s great workforce. In photos: Ivanka Trump visits Alabama. See the President’s Pledge: Over 12 million opportunities—and climbing!

Photo of the Day

Official White House Photo Shealah Craighead

President Trump listens as Executive Director of the White House Opportunity & Revitalization Council Scott Turner delivers remarks at the 2019 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Conference | September 10, 2019