U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has announced a $5 million funding initiative aimed at increasing the participation of American workers in Registered Apprenticeship programs and high-growth sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and cybersecurity. The initiative will provide up to 14 grants under the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) program.
The program is managed by the department’s Women’s Bureau and Employment and Training Administration. It supports community-based organizations in their efforts to recruit, train, and retain more women in Registered Apprenticeships and high-demand occupations. This move follows a comprehensive evaluation and realignment of the program to align with President Trump's objective of reaching one million new active apprentices.
“Under President Trump’s leadership and our shared commitment to transparency, the department has been reviewing all taxpayer-funded grants to ensure they fulfill their intended purpose and help this Administration achieve our workforce goals. That’s why these WANTO grants are specifically tailored to bolstering the number of women in our Registered Apprenticeship programs, which will help fill the thousands of jobs being created under the President’s America First policies,” Secretary Chavez-DeRemer said.
The WANTO grants aim to address the shortage of American workers in industries that require highly skilled labor, such as construction, manufacturing, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Since the beginning of the Trump Administration, over 145,000 new apprentices have registered nationwide. Apprenticeships are recognized as a pathway to well-paying jobs that support families while helping employers build a skilled workforce.
Further information on past WANTO grant recipients is available for those interested in learning more about how to apply for the 2025 WANTO grants.
