The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides new policy and funding for workforce development initiatives, including:
- Directing the U.S. Department of Energy to create three competitive grants for fiscal year 2022:
- $10 million for training individuals to conduct energy audits or surveys of commercial and residential buildings;
- $10 million for colleges and universities to establish training and assessment centers focused on energy-efficient construction; and
- $10 million for non-profit organizations that collaborate with employers to deliver training in energy efficiency and renewable energy industry skills.
- $5 million for a Transportation Workforce Outreach Program promoting awareness of career opportunities across the transportation sector;
- Establishing a new Commercial Vehicle Apprenticeship pilot program to provide up to 3,000 apprentices younger than 21 with 120 hours of experience driving commercial motor vehicles; and
- Authorizing the U.S. Department of Transportation funded training to be delivered by vocational schools in addition to community colleges. The existing DOT transportation workforce development curriculum program is expanded to include hands-on training opportunities.