US Department of Labor announces availability of $145M in funding to support performance-based Registered Apprenticeship expansion

In this program, “pay‑for‑performance” means federal money is not paid out just because a project exists, but only when it achieves specific apprenticeship results. While the detailed rules for this $145M initiative are not yet public (only a forecast notice is posted), DOL and Apprenticeship.gov describe similar apprenticeship incentive programs as paying organizations when they hit pre‑set outcome targets such as:

• recruiting and enrolling new apprentices in Registered Apprenticeship programs;
• apprentices reaching key milestones (e.g., hours of on‑the‑job training or related instruction completed);
• apprentices completing the program and earning a recognized credential; and/or
• apprentices placed into, or retained in, good‑paying jobs. In other recent DOL apprenticeship incentive efforts, these payments are explicitly “linked to specific performance criteria or predefined outcomes,” so this forecasted program is expected to use the same type of outcome‑based triggers; the exact metrics will be spelled out in the forthcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) on Grants.gov, not in the brief press release itself.

A “Registered Apprenticeship” is a formal, high‑quality “earn‑while‑you‑learn” training program that has been reviewed and officially approved by a government apprenticeship agency. To qualify as “registered,” a program must meet national standards (for paid work, on‑the‑job training, classroom instruction, mentoring, progressive wages, and a portable credential). Programs are registered (certified) either by:

• the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship (a federal agency), or
• a recognized State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) that DOL has authorized to register programs in that state. Only programs approved by one of these authorities are allowed to call themselves “Registered Apprenticeship Programs.”

A “cooperative agreement” is a type of federal financial assistance that looks similar to a grant (money given to support a public purpose) but with more day‑to‑day involvement from the federal agency.

• Under the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act, both grants and cooperative agreements are used when an agency is providing assistance, not buying goods or services.
• A grant is used when “substantial involvement” by the agency is NOT expected during the project.
• A cooperative agreement is used when “substantial involvement by the agency is anticipated” — for example, the Employment and Training Administration may help shape the work plan, provide ongoing technical assistance, review and approve key activities, and collaborate on evaluation. This differs from a federal contract, which is used when the government is purchasing specific products or services for its own direct use and typically involves more rigid performance and procurement rules.

The press release and brief Grants.gov stub do not yet list detailed eligibility, because this is only a forecast; the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) with eligibility rules has not been posted. Based on how ETA structures similar national apprenticeship cooperative agreements, likely eligible lead applicants will include public and nonprofit entities such as:

• state apprenticeship or workforce agencies and other state/local government entities;
• labor‑management organizations and unions;
• industry associations and employer consortia;
• nonprofit workforce boards, community‑based organizations, and education/training providers. But until ETA issues the full FOA for opportunity number 361087 on Grants.gov, the exact list of eligible applicant types for this specific $145M program cannot be stated with certainty.

The forecast notice is posted on Grants.gov under opportunity number 361087. To find it:

1. Go to Grants.gov and use the search bar.
2. Enter the opportunity number 361087 or search by keywords such as “Pay‑for‑Performance Incentive Payments Program” or “Registered Apprenticeship expansion.”
3. Open the result titled with the U.S. Department of Labor/ETA apprenticeship pay‑for‑performance incentive program; that page is where the forecast is hosted now and where the full application/solicitation package (FOA and forms) will be posted once available.

The specific performance metrics for this $145M incentive payments program are not yet public; only a short Grants.gov forecast is referenced in the DOL press release, and it does not list the detailed metrics. Those details will appear in the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) when ETA releases it. From Apprenticeship.gov and other recent DOL pay‑for‑performance apprenticeship initiatives, the Employment and Training Administration typically justifies incentive payments based on measurable outcomes such as:

• number of new apprentices hired into Registered Apprenticeship programs;
• apprentice progress milestones (e.g., hours of on‑the‑job training or related instruction completed);
• program completions and attainment of a nationally recognized credential; and
• employment and retention of apprentices in related, good‑paying jobs after the apprenticeship. However, the exact metrics, thresholds, and payment amounts for this specific program cannot be confirmed until the FOA is issued.