The U.S. DOL Announces Apprenticeship Building America Program

Earlier this week The U.S. Department of Labor announced the debut of a new grant program called the “Apprenticeship Building America Program”. This program will work to strengthen, modernize, expand and diversify the nation's Registered Apprenticeship Programs providing more ways for workers to earn a livable wage while also creating more and more pathways into the country's middle class.

This initiative is backed by President Biden’s current strategy of growing the infrastructure of registered apprenticeships and will make around $113 million in grant money available to these programs, including $50 million of those funds going towards the support of equity partnerships and pre-apprenticeship programs. The Department of Labor hopes that this increase in funding will help to increase enrollment in Registered Apprenticeship Programs while also helping create quality work opportunities to combat the ongoing global pandemic.

“For a young person starting their career or someone seeking a career change, Registered Apprenticeships provide equitable pathways to the middle class. The Apprenticeship Building America grant program will support the Department of Labor’s efforts to empower workers – morning, noon, and night – advance racial equity, give workers at-risk of exploitation a path to a good job and provide workers with access to health care and secure retirements throughout their careers,”

Marty Walsh, United States Secretary of Labor

Following the current national investment strategy, the Apprenticeship Building America Program will help to strengthen and grow the Registered Apprenticeship system. The new program will also work towards increasing equity and accessibility in program delivery to apprentices, bring the Registered Apprenticeship model to more industries, and improve RAP completion rates for underrepresented populations and underserved communities.

The Apprenticeship Building America Program grant recipients will work with various partners to support and develop the Registered Apprenticeship ecosystem. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, labor organizations, public and state institutions of higher education, and county governments. Finalists will receive awards from $1 to $8 million.