The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) grant helps to expand pathways for women to enter and lead in all industries.
Organizations receiving funds will provide one or more of the following types of technical assistance:
- Developing pre-apprenticeship or nontraditional skills training programs to prepare women for those careers;
- Providing ongoing orientations for employers, unions, and workers on creating a successful environment for women to succeed in those careers; and
- Setting up support groups, facilitating networks, or providing support services for women to improve their retention.
2024 Recipients
In 2024, the WANTO grant program awarded $6 million to 9 community-based organizations to increase women’s participation in apprenticeship programs and nontraditional occupations:
- Arkansas Center for Data Sciences (Apprenticely)
- Catalyst Connection
- Chicago Women in Trades
- Dev Mission
- Fresh Start Women’s Foundation
- Maryland Apprenticeship Connector
- Southern Nevada Building Trades Union
- Vermont Works for Women
- Veterans Enterprise Training & Services Group, Inc.
Read the news release, frequently asked questions, and 2024 funding opportunity announcement, which outlines the 2024 program priorities and evaluation factors.
N’Tasha Hunt
"Pre-apprenticeship is a good stepping stone... You can excel if you put in the effort."
Pre-Apprenticeship Graduate, Iron Workers Local 549
Hannah Hogg
"The confidence I've gained in myself has been invaluable."
IBEW Local 532
Josie Johnson
"Pre-apprenticeship prepares women for work in what is still a dominantly male work field."
Step Up for Women Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Graduate
Sierra Smith
"If I can encourage one woman to consider working in the trades, I'm happy."
IBEW Local 768
Past Recipients
In 2023, the WANTO grant program awarded $5 million to seven community-based organizations to increase women’s participation in apprenticeship programs and nontraditional occupations:
- Ada Developers Academy
- AFL-CIO Working for America Institute
- Hope Renovations
- Moore Community House
- Rhode Island Women in the Trades
- SER-Jobs for Progress of the Texas Gulf Coast, Inc.
- Vincentian Ohio Action Network
Read the 2023 funding opportunity announcement, which outlines the 2023 program priorities and evaluation factors, the news release and the frequently asked questions.
In 2022, the WANTO grant program awarded $3,400,000 to the following five community-based organizations:
- Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Employment for Women
- Chicago Women in Trades
- Fresh Start Women’s Foundation
- Hampton Roads Workforce Council
- Nontraditional Employment for Women
Read the news release, frequently asked questions, and 2022 funding opportunity announcement, which outlines the 2022 program priorities and evaluation factors.
In 2021, the WANTO grant program awarded $3,349,936 to the following five community-based organizations:
- Moore Community House, Inc.
- Per Scholas, Inc.
- SER Jobs for Progress of the Texas Gulf Coast, Inc.
- Tradeswomen Inc.
- Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership, Inc.
Read the news release, frequently asked questions and funding opportunity announcement, which outlines the 2021 program priorities and evaluation factors.
In 2020, the WANTO grant program awarded $4,100,000 to the following six community-based organizations:
- Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Employment for Women
- Center for Employment Training
- Chicago Women in Trades
- Gang Alternatives Inc.
- Goodwill Industries of East Texas Inc.
- Workforce Development Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties Inc.
Read the news release, frequently asked questions and funding opportunity announcement, which outlines the 2020 program priorities and evaluation factors.
In 2019, the WANTO grant program awarded $1,492,515 to the following three community-based organizations:
Read the press release and the funding opportunity announcement, which outlines the 2019 program priorities and evaluation factors.
In 2018, the WANTO grant program awarded $1,403,190 to the following four community-based organizations: