Labor Dept. Opens Applications for $6,000-Per-Apprentice Payments
The DOL's Pay-for-Performance program offers up to $6,000 per apprentice across shipbuilding, semiconductors, IT, and other high-growth sectors.
The U.S. Department of Labor has opened applications for direct incentive payments of up to $6,000 per apprentice under its Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program, targeting employers and program sponsors in high-growth industries including shipbuilding, semiconductors, information technology, and nuclear energy infrastructure. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until available funds are exhausted.
The initiative builds on nearly $200 million in pay-for-performance funds the department has committed to date. In July, the department directed nearly $162 million to five organizations to lead nationwide training programs across priority sectors. A separate $35.8 million cooperative agreement, the American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund, targets advanced manufacturing apprenticeships specifically.
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Three distinct funds are now accepting sponsors. The Florida Department of Commerce administers a $40 million Shipbuilding and Defense Industrial Base fund, offering baseline payments of $2,000 per new apprentice with potential awards reaching $6,000 for sponsors meeting strategic priorities. The Trustees of Clark University oversee a $27 million Information Technology fund providing a one-time $6,000 payment per apprentice who remains employed at least 90 days. Jobs for the Future Inc. manages a $40 million fund covering super intelligence, semiconductor fabrication, and nuclear energy infrastructure programs.
Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling, appearing in Florida alongside Rep. Brian Mast and state officials, framed the program as the administration's fastest available mechanism to place skilled workers in high-demand roles. President Trump had announced the Florida-led $40 million shipbuilding investment during a visit to Daytona Beach, with projections of nearly 10,000 new apprentices over four years.
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