Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program – Grant Opportunity

Workforce Services Information Notice
WSIN25-22

Issued: February 24, 2026

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announced the availability of approximately $145 million in funding for organizations interested in administering its Pay-for-Performance Incentive (PfP) Payments Program to expand the national apprenticeship system.

Purpose of the Grant

The Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program aims to expand the national apprenticeship system by awarding cooperative agreements to organizations working to develop new Registered Apprenticeships and to support the growth of existing apprenticeship programs. It seeks to reduce barriers that prevent Registered Apprenticeship sponsors from committing to developing or scaling their programs by offering incentive payments to program sponsors.

The Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program will focus on Registered Apprenticeship expansion in targeted industries, including shipbuilding and defense industrial base; artificial intelligence, semiconductor, and nuclear energy infrastructure; information technology; healthcare; transportation; and telecommunications.

Eligibility

The following entities are eligible to serve as the lead applicant:

  • State Agencies and Territories
  • National Industry Groups and Associations
  • National Labor Management Organizations
  • National Economic Development Entities: Organizations that focus on economic development and/or economic recovery strategies to support the labor market.
  • Registered Apprenticeship or Workforce Intermediary Organizations: Organizations functioning as business-related entities/workforce intermediaries for the expressed purpose of serving the needs of businesses, individual businesses, or consortia of businesses.
  • Professional Consulting Organizations: Organizations that are for-profit or not-for-profit primarily house subject matter experts who can provide independent and objective advice and support to organizations to define and achieve their goals through improved utilization of resources.
  • Consortia: A consortium of organizations that is led by an entity that is eligible to serve as lead applicant and whose principal function(s) are consistent with the capabilities associated with one or more of the above-listed organizations. Additionally, a consortium may be comprised of multiple regional entities, each otherwise consistent with one of the above-listed organizations, to achieve a national reach. A consortium is a group made up of two or more organizations, higher education institutions, companies, or governments that work together to achieve a common objective.

Funding Details

DOL ETA expects to fund up to five organizations, with each award ranging from $10 million to $40 million.

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted until April 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by the application deadline. For more information on how to apply for DOL funding opportunities, see their 2026 Application Guide.

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