Idaho industries to benefit from federal workforce grants

Idaho is among 14 states to benefit from a total of $86 million in workforce grants awarded by the federal government.

The Idaho Department of Labor will receive $8 million from the Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grant, which will be used to support workforce training in advanced manufacturing, domestic mineral production and nuclear energy.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the funds are meant to “accelerate innovation, strengthen domestic production, and address critical workforce needs across the country.” The agency stated that more than $20 million of the funds will be used to revitalize the shipbuilding industry by increasing training in related trades such as electrical and welding.

The grant funds are distributed through the Employment and Training Administration and “provide outcome-based reimbursements” to those employers who provide training in those needed industries.

“By investing more than $86 million in workforce development initiatives across the country, we are carrying out our responsibility to prepare American workers to fill the mortgage-paying jobs being created by this administration’s efforts to revitalize American manufacturing, shipbuilding, energy production and other critical industries,” said Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Secretary of Labor.

The agency stated that applicants in the grant process had to propose a funding model to award those employers training and retaining new-hires and already employed staff in “high-growth and emerging industries critical to American competitiveness.”

Depending on availability of funds, more rounds of grant awards may be held.