Sponsors (16)
The bill creates targeted, multi‑year federal support to build forestry workforce pipelines—especially for rural, tribal, and educational institutions—but the program's modest overall funding, eligibility rules (including a broadband requirement), and application/grant-size thresholds risk leaving many small or underserved communities without meaningful access.
Rural communities and low-income areas receive targeted federal funding: the bill authorizes $10 million per year (FY2026–2030) for multi‑year forestry career pathway programs in eligible areas, creating new resources for local workforce development.
Students and young adults gain expanded training and job placement opportunities: grants prioritize partnerships with secondary schools, vocational/technical schools, and community colleges and require assistance with workforce placement.
Tribal governments, local institutions, and nonprofits can access new program funds: the bill explicitly makes Indian Tribes, states, nonprofits, local governments, and colleges eligible applicants, broadening who can run and benefit from workforce programs.
Many eligible communities may receive little or no support because total funding is limited: the $10 million per year cap constrains how many projects can be funded and the scale of assistance.
Neediest areas could be excluded by the broadband requirement: only areas with broadband access or a plan to achieve it are eligible, which may sideline low‑income or remote communities lacking broadband plans.
Small local organizations may be deterred by complex application requirements: the need to demonstrate capacity, reach, sustainability, and detailed implementation plans could burden nonprofits and local governments with limited grant-writing resources.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a USDA competitive grant program funding forestry career‑pathway training in small, rural, low‑income, broadband‑connected communities, authorizing $10M/year for FY2026–FY2030.
Introduced July 21, 2025 by Marie Gluesenkamp Perez · Last progress July 21, 2025
Creates a USDA competitive grant program to fund multi‑year forestry career‑pathway training in rural, low‑income, broadband‑connected communities of 50,000 people or fewer. Grants range from $500,000 to $2,000,000 for up to four years; the Secretary must establish the program within one year of enactment and the bill authorizes $10 million per year for FY2026–FY2030 to carry it out. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, States, Indian Tribes, local governments, and institutions of higher education; applications must show capacity, community need, reach, sustainability, and an implementation plan. The Secretary must prioritize projects that address an aging forestry workforce and youth out‑migration, partner with secondary or postsecondary career/technical programs, and include workforce placement assistance.