US Department of Labor announces availability of $85M in grant funding to support Registered Apprenticeship expansion, modernization

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $85 million in funding to help states and territories fuel Registered Apprenticeship expansion and advance President Trump's goal of reaching and surpassing 1 million active apprentices nationwide.

Administered by the Department's Employment and Training Administration, the fourth round of State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grants provides direct funding to states and territories based on a new performance-based formula. This formula rewards states for recent growth in active and new apprentices and encourages strategies that increase employer participation. The SAEF funding also aligns with America's Talent Strategy by preparing the workforce for economic growth and strengthening the National Apprenticeship System as the nation's premier talent development pipeline.

To qualify for SAEF grants, eligible states and territories must commit to three core requirements:

• Setting statewide Registered Apprenticeship expansion goals for increasing the total number of active apprentices.
• Reserving a share of funds to directly support employers and Registered Apprentices in state-identified priority industries.
• Demonstrating a commitment to leveraging resources, which may include WIOA Governor's Reserve Funds, Perkins V Reserve Funds, and other federal or state tax credits or grants, equal to or greater than 50% of their formula allocation.

In addition to these three SAEF funding requirements, states with federally recognized State Apprenticeship agencies must publish average program approval times to increase transparency and accountability in the registration process.

"In order to reach and exceed President Trump's goal of 1 million active apprentices, states are essential partners in achieving this meaningful expansion of the National Apprenticeship System," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. "With this funding opportunity, we are supporting state-driven strategies that strengthen America's workforce and help employers develop the talent they need in critical industries like shipbuilding, artificial intelligence infrastructure, manufacturing, and other high growth sectors."

SAEF funds may also be used to:

• Hire Registered Apprenticeship navigators.
• Improve alignment between the Registered Apprenticeship, workforce, and education/Career and Technical Education systems.
• Create and implement incentive funding opportunities to grow Registered Apprenticeships, improve registration systems, or develop or modify Registered Apprenticeship-related instruction programs to be eligible for Workforce Pell Grant funding.

The SAEF program builds on recent ETA initiatives, including the Pay for Performance Incentive Payments Program - a $145 million national investment designed to spur innovation in Registered Apprenticeship - and the American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund, which provides $35.8 million to help employers develop apprenticeships aligned with U.S. manufacturing needs.

Learn more about the fourth round of State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grants.