![]() Digital skills are key to workers succeeding in training programs – and advocates can learn how to best implement this money through an upcoming webinar hosted with NTIA on March 22. NSC has launched a new initiative – Implementing an Inclusive Economic Recovery – to aid states in this process.Ī major part of the infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was the Digital Equity Act – which provides states with roughly $2.75 billion in federal grants to create digital inclusion programs. With this new funding, coupled with the recent investment through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, National Skills Coalition is encouraging our network to ensure these investments are implemented equitably. Take advantage of multiple funding streams coming down the pipeline for workforce Advocates now have a key opportunity to build on this momentum. For comparison, the House passed workforce funding levels significantly higher than the FY2022 funding package – $40 billion – at the end of 2021 as a part of the Build Back Better package. But more work is needed from advocates and the administration to ensure our workforce system serves all people. National Skills Coalition recently took to the virtual Hill as a part of the 2022 Skills Summit – resulting in over 125 meetings between workforce advocates and federal policymakers to discuss investing in skills training the importance of industry sector partnerships and the need to expand federal financial aid to short-term, high-quality training programs through the JOBS Act.Īdvocates’ voices were clearly heard throughout Congress – as workforce funding increased throughout these many programs by over $150 million. There is also a new $5 million Postsecondary Student Success grant, as well as a $20 million Rural Postsecondary Economic Development Grant. This includes a new $8 billion competitive grant for postsecondary institutions to assist students with access to basic needs. There are a handful of new programs of note within the FY2022 funding bill. Our adult education advocates were some of the most vocal during our 2022 Skills Summit, showing their advocacy and voice were heard throughout Congress. ![]() Two key programs in the Department of Education – Career and Technical Education State Grants and Adult Education and Family Literacy State Grants – saw a large increase investment as well over $60 million combined. ![]() Senior Community Service Employment Programs and Workforce Data Quality Initiative Grants saw level funding from the 2021 FY funding bill. Native American Programs, Reentry Employment Opportunities, Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, Youth Build, and JobCorps programs all saw moderate increases to funding. This funding is imperative given that the number of dislocated workers rose during the pandemic. The Dislocated Worker National Reserve saw one of the greatest increases in funding for workforce: a $20 million increase. Specifically, a $14 million increase for Dislocated Worker programs a $12 million increase for Youth programs and a $8 million increase for Adult programs.Īpprenticeship grants also saw a major increase in funding – a $50 million increase – in alignment with the President’s call to strengthen apprenticeships in his State of the Union speech. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title I programs overall saw an increase of $34 million. ![]() This amounted in a net increase of over $200 million across programs – a result of collective advocacy from our network over the years. Nearly every workforce program National Skills Coalition tracks saw an increase in funding. Major takeaways from the FY2022 spending bill The National Skills Coalition and our network continue to advocate for $40 billion in supplemental funding for workforce programs as proposed under Build Back Better.Ī breakdown of the amount allocated for workforce programs is below, as well as what the funding bill means for the workforce system, and what’s next for advocates. However, greater investment is needed to achieve a truly inclusive economic recovery where all workers – especially those historically underserved by the workforce system – can access training programs and small and mid-sized businesses have greater access to hiring skilled talent. The increased investments are a positive sign from Congress and the administration to recognize the importance of the workforce system. A more sizable increase was provided to Registered Apprenticeship programs. The fiscal year (FY) 2022 federal spending bill recently passed by Congress include s modest increases in funding across many workforce programs, including WIOA Title I, Dislocated Workers National Reserve, and Adult Education. Late Thursday night, Congress passed its fiscal year (FY) 2022 federal spending bill. ![]()
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