US Department of Labor awards $121M in Apprenticeship Building America grants to expand, diversify, modernize Registered Apprenticeship programs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of more than $121 million in Apprenticeship Building America grants to strengthen and modernize Registered Apprenticeship programs and enable workers to find a reliable pathway to the middle class. The department awarded more than $58 million of the total funding to grantees focusing on equity partnerships and pre-apprenticeship activities.

“The funding of $121.7 million in Apprenticeship Building America grants reaffirms and advances the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to strengthening and expanding Registered Apprenticeships,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “The Apprenticeship Building America grants will develop new pathways to good-quality jobs and provide America’s workers with opportunities to access and succeed in those pathways; and the intentional focus on equity partnerships and pre-apprenticeship activities will create opportunities for underrepresented and underserved communities.”

The Apprenticeship Building America grant program advances the department’s efforts to expand and modernize Registered Apprenticeship by increasing the number of programs and apprentices, diversifying the industries that use Registered Apprenticeship and improving the access to and performance of Registered Apprenticeship Programs for underrepresented and underserved communities.

On Feb. 23, 2022, the department announced the availability of funding through the Apprenticeship Building America program. The 30 recipients of the Apprenticeship Building America grants will incorporate cross-cutting principles to ensure access to quality Registered Apprenticeship Programs including equity, job quality, sustainability, evidence-based approaches and new opportunities for innovation, engagement and ease of access.

Funding was awarded in four categories:

• State Apprenticeship System Building and Modernization.
• Expansion of Registered Apprenticeship Program Opportunities for Youth.
• Ensuring Equitable Registered Apprenticeship Program Pathways through Pre-Apprenticeship Leading to RAP enrollment and Equity Partnerships.
• Registered Apprenticeship Hubs to facilitate the establishment, scaling and expansion of Registered Apprenticeship Programs in new and fast-growing industries and occupations.

A list of the recipients of the Apprenticeship Building America grant funding follows this news release.