Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program

Program Overview    

     On April 5, 2023, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announced the availability of $80 million for the first round of funding for the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program. Due to rapid increases of infrastructure-related projects from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act, this program is seeking workforce development projects to support the implementation of these programs. Specifically, the program is seeking to invest in the workforce expansion of advanced manufacturing and information technology, as well as occupations in renewable energy, transportation, and broadband infrastructure sectors.

     A key priority of the program is to provide opportunities for workers from underserved and underrepresented populations in local communities and within the workforces of these industries. Applicants must choose one of the following tracks for this grant program: 1) Development Track: Developing and Implementing Local/Regional Worker-Centered Sector Strategy Programs; or 2) Scaling Track: Scaling Effective Worker-Centered Sector Strategy Programs. Both tracks require public-private partnerships to incorporate the following core principles to ensure equitable access to quality jobs: 1) strategies for ensuring diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; 2) career pathways that lead to middle- to high-skilled employment; and 3) worker-centered sector strategies.  

Program Tracks and Goals:  

Development Track: Developing Local/Regional Worker-Centered Sector Strategy Programs 

Goal: to establish local and regional partnerships that will foster the implementation of an effective, worker-centered sector training program in one or more infrastructure-related sectors.

Applicants must:

• Develop and implement programs in local or regional service areas that are responsive to employer demand 

• Target H-1B occupations and sectors which are experiencing strong growth 

• Design programs that support equitable participation and growth of sector-based partnerships 

Scaling Track: Scaling Effective Worker-Centered Sector Strategy Programs 

Goal: to invest in established partnerships that have demonstrated effectiveness in implementing sector strategy training programs in one or more infrastructure related sectors.

Applicants must:

• Design their training programs to include evidence-based training models and will strategically scale their programs in ways that meet the needs of employers in the targeted service area 

• Include documentation of past success  

• Demonstrate why and how broadening the geographic scope of their proposed training model will build a greater number of worker-centered, quality infrastructure jobs 

Eligibility    

Eligible applicants for the program are as follows:

• National or community-based nonprofit organizations targeting the relevant sectors 

• Labor unions, labor-management organizations, and worker organizations 

• Workforce development entities 

• Education and training providers 

• Economic development agencies 

• Native American tribal governments 

• State, county, and local governments

Cost Match:  

• Development Track: not required, but 15% minimum is strongly encouraged 

• Scaling Track: 15% minimum is required  

Key Dates 

Deadline for Full Applications: July 7, 23, 11:59 PM ET 

Round 2 of this program will open on 3/15/2024 and is due 6/14/24.

Resources: 

View the Opportunity here. 

Read the Press release here. 

View the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Fact Sheet here.