Description

 The purpose of the DOL Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program is to fund public-private partnerships to develop, strengthen, and scale promising and evidence-based training models in H-1B industries and occupations critical to meeting the goals of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and to maximize the impact of these investments. The United States (U.S.) will need a proficient workforce to fill the good-paying jobs created by this historic investment, and this grant program will train job seekers in advanced manufacturing; information technology; and professional, scientific, and technical services occupations that support renewable energy, transportation, and broadband infrastructure sectors. The DOL Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program represents a down payment for the future skilled workforce needs that are being developed through the BIL investments by investing in the development and expansion of the workforce partnerships that will be needed to build equitable pathways to good infrastructure jobs.The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Grant Program serves dual purposes by implementing and scaling worker-centered sector strategies to support the workforce necessary for successful implementation of the BIL. Applicants must choose one of the following tracks for this grant program: 1) Development Track: Developing and Implementing Local/Regional Worker-Centered Sector Strategy Programs; or 2) Scaling Track: Scaling Effective Worker-Centered Sector Strategy Programs. The goal of the Development Track is to use promising training models to invest in and establish local/regional partnerships that will implement sector-based training programs across one or multiple infrastructure-related sectors. This track will support equitable participation and growth of worker-centered sector-based training programs,  particularly those serving rural and smaller communities and historically marginalized, underrepresented, and underserved populations. The goal of the Scaling Track is to scale an existing training model to the statewide or national level, that has shown demonstrated success in one infrastructure-related sector. This track will invest in statewide and national partnerships that will set the stage to enable support and growth in evidence-based worker-centered sector strategies.Both tracks require public-private partnerships to develop workforce training programs which incorporate the following core principles into their grant project design to ensure equitable access to quality jobs: 1) strategies for ensuring diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; 2) career pathways that lead to middle- to high-skilled employment; and 3) worker-centered sector strategies. To embed strong worker voice into these grant projects, applicants should engage workers during the initial grant proposal development phase to ensure that worker needs and priorities and job quality are incorporated into the project design.Questions regarding this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Forecast may be emailed to IN_FOA-ETA-23-31@dol.gov; however, please note there is limited information that may be shared with the public, as this FOA is currently under development.  We encourage prospective applicants and interested parties to use the Grants.gov subscription option to register for future updates provided for this particular FOA.