- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Economic Development
The U.S. Department of Labor said it will make about $76 million available in grants to support employment and training programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians, directing funds to tribal governments and affiliated organizations under federal workforce programs.
The funding, administered by the Employment and Training Administration, will support about 163 grants under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s Indian and Native American programs.
Roughly $62 million is allocated for adult employment and training, with $14 million designated for youth services, including summer and year-round job programs for individuals ages 14 to 24 in tribal communities, Alaska, Oklahoma and Hawaii.
The grants are structured to fund education-to-career pathways, including academic instruction, occupational training and literacy development.
The department said the funding is intended to improve workforce competitiveness and support self-employment through entrepreneurial training, while strengthening connections between tribal communities, employers and education providers.
Eligible applicants include federally recognized tribes, tribal organizations, Alaska Native-controlled entities, Native Hawaiian-controlled organizations, Indian-controlled nonprofits, and certain state-controlled entities and consortia.
Final award amounts will be determined through a geographic funding formula. The grants are part of the federal government’s workforce strategy aimed at aligning training with labor market demand, according to a DOL news release.
