The U.S. Department of Labor announced $98,000,000 in YouthBuild grant funding on December 30, 2025, aiming to expand education, occupational skills training and employment services for youth through pre-apprenticeship programs in high-demand industries.
The funding, administered by the Employment and Training Administration under the YouthBuild Program, is set to support training linked to construction, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and healthcare, the department said.
Roughly 57 grants are expected, with individual awards ranging from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 for eligible organizations including nonprofits and educational institutions.
Applications are due by March 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time through Grants.gov under Funding Opportunity Announcement <a href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/grants/pdfs/YouthBuild_2025_FOA-ETA-26-38.pdf">FOA-ETA-26-38</a>, the department said.
Applications are due March 2, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET. Expect about 57 awards, each from $1M to $2M; tailor your proposal to high-growth sectors like construction, manufacturing, IT, and healthcare.
Target population and program goals
The grant competition targets youth aged 16–24 who are not in school or employed. Funding is intended to combine hands-on training with academic support, occupational instruction, and job-related services to help participants move into work or further education.
Grant-funded YouthBuild projects are expected to operate as pre-apprenticeship models, strengthening connections to Registered Apprenticeship programs and emphasizing skills that align with sectors the department describes as both high-demand and future-focused.
Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said the investment aligns with broader federal goals of building a skilled American workforce able to meet demand in traditional trades as well as emerging technology fields.
Program components and typical time split
The department said the funding will support pre-apprenticeship programs that offer:
- Hands-on training
- Academic support
- Occupational skills instruction
- Employment services for participants seeking work or further education after leaving the program
YouthBuild participants typically divide their time roughly as follows:
- About 50% — Education (e.g., working toward a high school diploma or GED)
- About 40% — Occupational skills training
- About 10% — Leadership development and community service
Occupational training can include construction of affordable housing, alongside wraparound supports such as transportation and childcare to help participants remain engaged and complete training.
New performance expectations and apprenticeship linkages
A central change in this year’s competition is a first-time performance expectation tied directly to Registered Apprenticeship outcomes, including a target for participants entering Registered Apprenticeship programs within one year of exiting YouthBuild.
The department framed that measure as a way to tighten the link between pre-apprenticeship learning and longer-term career pathways that can lead to stable employment or further education. Applicants are expected to show partnerships with apprenticeship sponsors.
“The Registered Apprenticeship performance metric is designed to push programs toward measurable placements and longer-term career steps, not only short-term training completion.”
Artificial intelligence emphasis
AI training is another priority embedded in the new funding opportunity:
- Mandatory AI literacy is required in YouthBuild education components.
- The department encourages the use of AI concepts in occupational training.
This AI requirement follows President Trump’s April 2025 executive order, “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth,” which the department cited as guiding the emphasis on AI literacy for YouthBuild participants.
Beyond the mandatory literacy component, the department expects applications to align training with labor market shifts and employer needs—especially where technology adoption and workforce demand intersect.
Priority considerations and applicant preferences
Applicants will be evaluated against stated priorities that include:
- Preference for applications from charter schools that partner with administration educational freedom initiatives
- Demonstrated alignment of training with labor market needs and employer demand
- Evidence of partnerships with Registered Apprenticeship sponsors
- Integration of AI literacy into education components
- Embedding skills training in sectors described as high growth
The department linked the funding opportunity to the administration’s broader apprenticeship goals, describing the YouthBuild competition as aligning with America’s Talent Strategy and its target of 1 million apprenticeships.
Eligible applicants
Eligible applicants include:
- Public or private nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3)s)
- Native American tribal governments and organizations
- State and local governments
- Educational institutions (public and private higher education, independent school districts)
- Special district governments
Those organizations are expected to build applications that demonstrate partnerships with Registered Apprenticeship sponsors, integrate AI literacy into education components, and embed skills training in high-growth sectors.
Workforce and immigration context
The department said YouthBuild has a long record of helping young people—especially those disconnected from the workforce—gain access to career pathways, formal credentials, and job opportunities.
While the funding is domestic in nature, the emphasis on information technology, healthcare, and AI literacy touches fields that overlap with broader U.S. labor demand in roles often associated with STEM education and employer recruitment.
The department’s materials noted structured pathways tying training to apprenticeships can strengthen workforce pipelines in sectors where employers sponsor skilled talent, including immigrant professionals and U.S. citizens.
For international students on F-1 visas, the department described pre-apprenticeships and skills training as potential experience that can enhance employability after graduation—whether through CPT, OPT, or other employment-based opportunities depending on visa eligibility.
Employer engagement with training pipelines can coincide with hiring needs that may include H-1B petitions for highly skilled talent in technology and healthcare roles, the department’s materials said.
Application details and resources
Applicants are directed to review the full solicitation document, titled <a href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/grants/pdfs/YouthBuild_2025_FOA-ETA-26-38.pdf">YouthBuild_2025_FOA-ETA-26-38.pdf</a>, on Grants.gov and prepare applications that reflect required components and partnerships.
Key application facts:
- Funding Opportunity Announcement:
<a href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/grants/pdfs/YouthBuild_2025_FOA-ETA-26-38.pdf">FOA-ETA-26-38</a> - Application deadline: March 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
- Estimated number of awards: ~57
- Award range: $1,000,000 to $2,000,000
Contact for more information: [email protected]
The department also referenced a YouthBuild program page at the Employment and Training Administration, available at DOL YouthBuild page.
Notes and context
An earlier announcement in November 2025 cited different award estimates and ranges, but the department’s materials indicated the December 30, 2025 announcement reflects the current funding details for this round.
With awards ranging from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000, the department expects projects to provide both direct training and services intended to help participants transition into jobs or education after program completion.
By requiring AI literacy in the education component and encouraging its use across occupational training, the department signaled YouthBuild projects should integrate foundational technology skills alongside trade- and sector-specific instruction.
Through the Employment and Training Administration and the YouthBuild Program, the department cast the $98,000,000 investment as part of a broader federal workforce effort that ties education attainment, hands-on training, and employment services to apprenticeships and credential pathways.
With the application window running until March 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, the department is asking eligible nonprofits, schools, governments, and other organizations to propose projects that:
- Link pre-apprenticeship learning to Registered Apprenticeship entry
- Incorporate AI literacy into education components
- Build industry partnerships in construction, advanced manufacturing, IT, and healthcare
- Demonstrate measurable outcomes tied to apprenticeship placements within one year of program exit
The U.S. Department of Labor is investing $98 million into YouthBuild to provide education and occupational training for disconnected youth. Focusing on high-demand sectors like IT and healthcare, the program now requires AI literacy and creates measurable pathways into Registered Apprenticeships. Eligible organizations, including nonprofits and schools, must apply by March 2, 2026, to secure grants between $1 million and $2 million for workforce development.
