U.S. Department of Labor makes $80 million available in funding through Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Labor has made $80 million available in funding through its Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program.

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 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,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Brent Parton. “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 will enable partners in the public and private sectors to develop or scale workforce training programs to prepare job seekers in advanced manufacturing, information technology and professional, scientific and technical service occupations that support renewable energy, transportation and broadband infrastructure sectors. These include occupations in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors, broadband and transmission expansion, advanced manufacturing, including biomanufacturing, and electrical, industrial and civil engineers and technicians who facilitate the design, construction, modernization and maintenance of the nation’s infrastructure.

According to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the grants will enable organizations to provide learning opportunities for several occupations, including those involved in the design, construction, modernization and maintenance of America’s infrastructure. FTA urged agencies to apply for funding to support training efforts associated with transit maintenance workers and mechanics.

 Nonprofits, labor organizations, public and state institutions of higher education, economic and workforce entities and state, county and local governments can apply for grants ranging from $500,000 to $5 million. Unions, community-based organizations, community colleges and workforce boards that help transit agencies recruit and train workers are also eligible applicants.

Applicants must choose one of the following tracks for the grant program:

•  Development track: Establishes local and regional partnerships that will implement new sector-based training programs across infrastructure-related sectors.
• Scaling track: Expands an existing local or regional training partnership model, with demonstrated success in a specific infrastructure-related sector, to the state or national level.

With the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program, 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 funding will also support programs that align with the department’s Good Jobs Initiative and embed diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility into the project design.