Sponsors (17)
The bill provides targeted, multi‑year grants to build rural forestry career pathways through education partnerships and local institutions, but limited total funding plus broadband, minimum‑award, and application requirements mean many needy or smaller communities may be left out.
Rural communities and eligible organizations gain dedicated federal funding: the bill authorizes $10M/year (FY2026–2030) and offers individual grants of $500K–$2M for multi‑year forestry career pathway programs, enabling multi‑year program stability and scaling.
Students and young adults can access training and placement through grants that prioritize partnerships with secondary, vocational/technical, and community colleges and require workforce placement assistance.
Tribes, local governments, colleges, and nonprofits are explicitly eligible, expanding funding pathways for tribal and local workforce programs and supporting community institutions.
Total funding is limited: a $10M/year cap constrains program scale so many eligible communities and projects may not receive grants or full support.
A broadband access or plan requirement could exclude needy low‑income rural areas that lack broadband, leaving out communities that might benefit most.
Minimum award size ($500K) and multi‑year grant structure may favor larger organizations and disadvantage smaller community groups with lower capacity.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a USDA competitive grant program funding multi‑year forestry career‑pathway training in small rural communities, authorized $10M/year for FY2026–2030.
Official title: To require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program to address forestry workforce development needs, and for other purposes.
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 small, rural, low‑income, broadband‑connected communities (population ≤50,000). Grants will run up to four years, range from $500,000–$2,000,000, and the program must be established within one year of enactment. The Secretary of Agriculture must prioritize projects that address an aging forestry workforce and youth out-migration, partner with secondary and post‑secondary training institutions, and help place trainees into jobs. The bill authorizes $10 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2030 to operate the program.