((a)) ** In general** The Secretary of Commerce may carry out a grant program to identify the need for skilled science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this section as “STEM”) workers and to expand STEM apprenticeship programs.

((b)) ** Eligible recipient defined** In this section, the term “eligible recipient” means—

((1)) a State;

((2)) an Indian tribe;

((3)) a city or other political subdivision of a State;

((4)) an entity that—

((A)) is a nonprofit organization, an institution of higher education, a public-private partnership, a science or research park, a Federal laboratory, or an economic development organization or similar entity; and

((B)) has an application that is supported by a State, a political subdivision of a State, or a native organization; or

((5)) a consortium of any of the entities described in paragraphs (1) through (5).

((c)) ** Needs assessment grants** The Secretary of Commerce may provide a grant to an eligible recipient to conduct a needs assessment to identify—

((1)) the unmet need of a region’s employer base for skilled STEM workers;

((2)) the potential of STEM apprenticeships to address the unmet need described in paragraph (1); and

((3)) any barriers to addressing the unmet need described in paragraph (1).

((d)) ** Apprenticeship expansion grants** The Secretary of Commerce may provide a grant to an eligible recipient that has conducted a needs assessment as described in subsection (c)(1) to develop infrastructure to expand STEM apprenticeship programs.