US Department of Labor announces $3.3M in grants to expand job opportunities for women in apprenticeships, nontraditional occupations

PHILADELPHIA - In a ceremony today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty J. Walsh announced $3.3 million in grant funding to help recruit, train and retain more women in quality pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs as well as nontraditional occupations. The event, hosted by Per Scholas Inc., included remarks from the Secretary, Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon and two graduates of Per Scholas’ technical skills training program. Per Scholas, a grant recipient, will use its grant to launch a Women in Tech Software Engineering Apprenticeship pilot program in the Washington, D.C. area.

Administered by the department's Women's Bureau and Employment and Training Administration, the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grants were awarded to organizations in California, Mississippi, New York, Texas and Wisconsin.

“For too long, women have faced barriers to gaining entry into apprenticeships and nontraditional careers,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty J. Walsh. “As we work to build back a better economy, these grants will empower women to get the training and support they need to secure good paying jobs and pathways into the middle class. They are important and effective tools for creating a more inclusive and equitable workforce.”

WANTO grants can be used to support women’s participation in a range of fields in which women have traditionally been underrepresented. These industries include finance, technology, construction, manufacturing, energy and transportation. A portion of the grants may be used to provide supportive services such as child care, transportation, tuition costs and work-related equipment.

The 2021 WANTO grant recipients are:

 For more information about the program and grant recipients see the department's WANTO page.