Sponsors (2)
The bill expands federally funded, employer-linked construction-trades training and prioritizes rural and low-income participants to boost employment, but it requires about $100M over five years and imposes administrative and eligibility constraints that could exclude some providers and concentrate awards geographically.
Students and incumbent construction workers gain access to funded, credentialed training programs in trades (carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC) paired with local employer partnerships and job-placement supports, improving certification rates and employment prospects.
Rural residents and underserved, low-income participants receive prioritized grant support plus scholarships and supportive services, increasing training access, retention, and completion outside metropolitan areas.
Grant recipients and program operators receive dedicated, multi-year federal authorization ($20 million per year for FY2025–FY2029), creating stable funding for training grants and program evaluation.
Taxpayers fund approximately $100 million in authorized spending over five years to support the program.
Small community colleges and training providers may face added administrative burden from application requirements, 18-month reporting, and performance metrics tied to WIOA indicators, which could strain limited staff and resources.
Applicants and partner organizations must attest to having no pending labor-law enforcement actions, potentially excluding organizations with minor or disputed violations from receiving grants.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced January 22, 2025 by Jacklyn Sheryl Rosen · Last progress January 22, 2025
Creates a new competitive grant program under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to expand education, training, and outreach for careers in residential construction. Grants (up to four years) will go to community/junior colleges, area career and technical schools, and eligible training providers, with a priority for programs serving rural areas and other underserved populations and an authorization of $20 million per year for FY2025–FY2029.