The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced the availability of $80 million through its Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program.
These funds will support workforce training programs in advanced manufacturing, information technology and professional, scientific and technical service occupations that support renewable energy, transportation and broadband infrastructure sectors, according to an April 5 Department of Labor news release.
"The U.S. will need a skilled and diverse workforce to fill the good-paying jobs created by the historic investments in President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to increase domestic manufacturing, rebuild roads, upgrade transportation systems, provide clean water, provide affordable high-speed internet and deliver cheaper and cleaner energy," Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Brent Parton said in the news release. "This grant program represents a down payment to ensure we have the skilled workforce we need by investing in workforce partnerships that build equitable pathways to good infrastructure careers."
The grants range from $500,000 to $5 million, the release reported. Applicants may choose between two tracks – development or scaling. The development track establishes local and regional partnerships to implement sector-based training programs. The scaling track will expand an existing local or regional training partnership model to the state or national level.
"Pending availability of funds, the department intends to make a total of approximately $200 million available for the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant program over multiple competitive rounds of funding," the release said.
According to the release, successful applicants will develop or scale strategies that provide the training and supportive services needed to build a talent pipeline for career pathways in infrastructure-related industries, with emphasis on programs serving people from rural or historically marginalized, underserved and underrepresented communities.
The jobs training funding is for future employees in information technology, advanced manufacturing, and professional, scientific, and technical service occupations in renewable energy, transportation and broadband infrastructure sectors, the release reported.
