Current Grant Programs

Critical Sectors Job Quality Grants Round 2

On September 25, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Round 2 grantees totaling $13 million; eight organizations will design and deploy programs in 10 states to improve job quality and increase the availability of good jobs in the care, climate resilience and hospitality industries.

This second round of Critical Sectors Job Quality grants responds to the increased demand for workers in industries essential to a revitalized economy but who have historically been in low-wage jobs with fewer benefits, less worker protections, and greater instability. 

For more information about the Critical Sectors Job Quality Round 2 Grant Program, please see:

The Critical Sectors Job Quality Grant Program Round 2 recipients are as follows:

Round 2: Tier 1 - Planning

List of the Critical Sectors Job Quality Grant Program Round 2: Tier 1 grantees.
Grantee Name Area of Focus City State Award
Grantee Name National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Area of Focus Hospitality City Washington State DC Award $499,890
Grantee Name United Way of Dane County Area of Focus Climate Resiliency City Madison State WI Award $147,384
Grantee Name Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO Area of Focus Hospitality City Seattle State WA Award $500,000
Grantee Name Workforce Development Board of Herkimer Madison and Oneida Counties Area of Focus Care City Utica State NY Award $398,657
Grantee Name Total Area of Focus - City - State - Award $1,545,931

Round 2: Tier 2 - Implementation

List of the Critical Sectors Job Quality Grant Program Round 2: Tier 2 grantees.
Grantee Name Area of Focus City State Award
Grantee Name Alaska Southcentral/Southeastern Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #23 Area of Focus Climate Resiliency City Anchorage State AK Award $2,415,709
Grantee Name Charles Stewart Mott Community College Area of Focus Care City Flint State MI Award $2,971,060
Grantee Name Seattle-King County Workforce Development Council Area of Focus Hospitality City Seattle State WA Award $3,000,000
Grantee Name SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West Area of Focus Care City Oakland State CA Award $3,000,000
Grantee Name Total Area of Focus - City - State - Award $11,386,769

Critical Sectors Job Quality Grants Round 1

In September 2023, the Employment and Training Administration announced $16 million in grants to support organizations in 12 states as they pilot strategies to improve job quality and increase the availability of good jobs in the care, climate resiliency, and hospitality sectors.

The Critical Sectors Job Quality Grants Program grants will enable recipients to design and deploy programs aligned with the Good Jobs Principles developed by the Department of Labor and Commerce. These principles will guide employers, local workforce systems, and partner organizations to enhance job quality in their communities. This funding is authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) sec. 169(c) and appropriated under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. 117-103, Div. H) for carrying out Demonstration and Pilot projects related to the employment and training needs of dislocated workers, other adults, or youth.

For more information about the Critical Sectors Job Quality Round 1 Grant Program, please see:

The Critical Sectors Job Quality Grants Round 1 recipients are as follows:

Round 1: Tier 1 - Planning

List of the Critical Sectors Job Quality Grant Program Round 1: Tier 1 grantees.
Grantee Name Area of Focus City State Award
Grantee Name EDvance Area of Focus Care City San Francisco State CA Award $495,870
Grantee Name Tampa Bay Academy of Hope Area of Focus Climate Resiliency City Tampa State FL Award $495,879
Grantee Name Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative Area of Focus Climate Resiliency City Cincinnati State OH Award $495,816
Grantee Name Lane Workforce Partnership Area of Focus Hospitality City Hospitality State OR Award $446,786
Grantee Name Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Area of Focus Hospitality City Cheyney State PA Award $495,878
Grantee Name Industrial Development Advantage of East Chicago* Area of Focus Climate Resiliency City Farr West State UT Award $495,878
Grantee Name Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board, Inc. Area of Focus Climate Resiliency City Warsaw State VA Award $495,878
Grantee Name Total Area of Focus - City - State - Award $3,421,985
*The recipient is located in Utah, but funding will support communities in Indiana.

Round 1: Tier 2 - Implementation

List of the Critical Sectors Job Quality Grant Program Round 1: Tier 2 grantees.
Grantee Name Area of Focus City State Award
Grantee Name Hospitality Industry Training and Education Fund Area of Focus Hospitality City Los Angeles State CA Award $2,975,276
Grantee Name Resilience Force Area of Focus Climate Resiliency City New Orleans State LA Award $991,759
Grantee Name Civic Works Inc. Area of Focus Climate Resiliency City Baltimore State MD Award $2,975,276
Grantee Name Portland General Electric Company Area of Focus Climate Resiliency City Portland State OR Award $2,975,276
Grantee Name Employ Milwaukee Inc. Area of Focus Hospitality City Milwaukee State WI Award $2,661,661
Grantee Name Total Area of Focus - City - State - Award $12,579,248