YouthBuild 2025 – Grant Opportunity

Workforce Services Information Notice
WSIN25-15

Issued: January 8, 2026

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announces the availability of $98 million in grant funding for the YouthBuild Program for Program Year (PY) 2025-26.

Purpose of the Grant

The YouthBuild funding opportunity will award grants through a competitive process to eligible entities to provide pre-apprenticeship occupational skills training, education, and job placement services to disadvantaged and low-income young people, ages 16 to 24.

YouthBuild is a pre-apprenticeship program that prepares participants for quality jobs in high-demand industries through partnerships with Registered Apprenticeship sponsors, facilitating access to high-quality career pathways. YouthBuild PY 25-26 applicants must include construction skills training and may include occupational skills training in other in-demand industries, such as advanced manufacturing and information technology. YouthBuild also includes wrap-around supportive services for participants, such as assistance in transportation, childcare, and housing.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include the following:

  • State governments
  • County governments
  • City or township governments
  • Special district governments
  • Independent school districts
  • Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
  • Private non-profit institutions of higher education
  • Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
  • Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (including charter schools) other than institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Funding Details

Through this program, DOL will fund approximately 57 projects across the country. Individual grants will range from $1 million to $2 million and require applicants to match 25 percent of the total federal share of costs for the proposed project.

Subject to the number of quality applications, DOL intends to award at least 50 percent of the total available grant competition funding to eligible applicants previously funded by the DOL YouthBuild program that have demonstrated success in the program, referred to as Category A. DOL will award the remainder of funds to other qualifying organizations, referred to as Category B. Category A applicants can request funding between $1 million and $2 million; Category B applicants can request funding between $1 million and $1,500,000.

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted until March 2, 2026, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by the application deadline. For questions concerning this grant opportunity and more information on how to apply, visit the DOL ETA website.

/s/ KIMBERLEE MEYER, Chief
Central Office Workforce Services Division