The U.S. Department of Labor, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Transportation, has announced the availability of $80 million in funding through the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program.

The program is intended to support the expansion of training opportunities for infrastructure-related jobs that are being created through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments.

State and local governments, community-based organizations, workforce boards, community colleges, and labor organizations can apply for funding to support training in a wide range of occupations associated with infrastructure.

Applications are due by July 7.

Grants are intended to help develop or scale workforce training programs in advanced manufacturing; information technology; and professional, scientific and technical service occupations that support renewable energy, transportation and broadband infrastructure sectors. These include occupations in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors; broadband and transmission expansion; advanced manufacturing, including biomanufacturing; and electrical, industrial and civil engineers and technicians who facilitate the design, construction, modernization and maintenance of the nation’s infrastructure.

Professional, scientific and technical services occupations in construction, including civil engineering technicians, drafting and construction management and maintenance and mechanic occupations in rail and transit, are all included.

The program includes two grant categories:
• Development Track grants help to establish local and regional partnerships that will implement new sector-based training programs across infrastructure-related sectors.

• Scaling Track grants help to expand an existing local or regional training partnership model, with demonstrated success in a specific infrastructure-related sector, to the state or national level.

Grant awards will range from $500,000 to $5 million, depending on whether the training program is new or ready-to-scale.

State and local transportation agencies can apply for grants to support training for their internal workforce. Partnerships with state workforce agencies, workforce development boards, community colleges or community-based organizations are encouraged.

The notice of funding opportunity is available on Grants.gov.

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