POLICY UPDATE 7-17-26

July 17, 2026 |

News at NYEC

Registration is Open: NYEC’s DC Summit in Washington, DC – September 21–23! Formerly known as Youth Days, this is our convening that brings together practitioners, youth leaders, and partners to demonstrate the importance of investing in young people and the programs that support them. Early Bird registration has been extended to July 22!   

Legislative Branch

  • Full Committee Markup for Education & Workforce Committee Bills: On July 15, the House Committee on Education and Workforce met to markup 10 education and workforce related bills, including H.R. 9607, Less Bureaucracy, Better Workforce Development Act, and H.R. 9606, Less Bureaucracy, Better Child Care for Student Parents Act. All bills advanced out of the Committee to be considered on the House floor.  
  • Nomination Hearing for Keith Sonderling: On July 16, 2026, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a nomination hearing to consider and question Keith Sonderling for the position of U.S. Secretary of Labor. You can watch the hearing here. The Committee will meet to discuss the official confirmation of Keith Sonderling on July 23, at 10:00 AM. You can check for the live recording of that session here.  
  • Field Hearing on AI-Ready Workforce: On July 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM, the House Committee on Education and Workforce will hold a field hearing in Augusta, Georgia titled “Building an AI-Ready America: How AI is Creating Opportunities Across America’s Workforce.” .     

Executive Branch

  • U.S. Department of Labor Awards $29.9 Million to Expand Telecomunications Apprenticeships: The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) was awarded nearly $30 million to expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs in the telecommunications industry nationwide. The funding will help employers develop and scale apprenticeship opportunities for broadband and wireless infrastructure careers, addressing critical workforce shortages while creating more pathways into high-demand, skilled occupations.  
  • U.S. Department of Labor Announces Second Round of Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund Grants: The U.S. Department of Labor announced approximately $40 million in a second round of Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grants to help states expand employer-led workforce training in high-demand industries, including at least $5 million dedicated to shipbuilding. The funding supports industry partnerships that prepare workers for in-demand careers through skills-based training aligned with employer needs. 

From the States

  • Hawaii: Hawaii is expanding its state-funded career internship program to provide students and recent graduates with paid, hands-on work experience in high-demand industries. The initiative aims to strengthen the state’s workforce by connecting young people with employers, building career readiness, and creating pathways to long-term employment. 
  • New York: New York has launched the Semiconductor Manufacturing Workforce Training Incentive Program to support employer-led training for careers in the semiconductor industry. The initiative offers tax incentives to manufacturers that invest in workforce training, helping prepare workers for high-demand manufacturing jobs while strengthening the state’s talent pipeline and supporting continued growth in the semiconductor sector. 

Resources

  • Creative Economy Pathways Series: The Creating Abundance Collaborative is hosting a five-part national virtual town hall series that will explore how Creative Youth Development (CYD) programs prepare adolescents and young adults for the future of work through art and culture. The series will highlight innovative workforce development strategies that build leadership, creativity, communication, collaboration, and career readiness while fostering pathways to employment and economic opportunities.  
  • Aspen Institute Financial Capability Toolkit for Opportunity Youth: The toolkit explores how financial capability can be meaningfully integrated into workforce and education pathways for opportunity youth. It examines four models – from summer employment programs and national partnerships to locally driven collaborations and asset-building strategies while also exploring broader factors that shape implementation, including staff wellbeing, changing income pathways, digital financial learning, and emerging technologies. 
  • Youth Leadership Opportunity: The Britebound Center for Career Navigation at JFF is looking for motivated changemakers (ages 18-24) to help shape how young adults explore careers, access education and job training, and find jobs that work for them. Applications are due July 24, 2026.  

Federal Funding Opportunities

  • FY 2026 Susan Harwood Training Grant Program: The grant program offers eligible organizations the opportunity to compete annually for funding, so they may develop and conduct training and educational programs for small business employers and workers. The Susan Harwood Training Grant Program supports eligible organizations’ efforts to provide occupational safety and health training. Applications are due July 31, 2026   
  • HHS Grant: FY2026 Runaway Homeless Youth Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building Center (RHYTTAC): The Runaway and Homeless Youth Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building Center (RHYTTAC) provides direct training and technical assistance to existing RHY award recipients and subrecipients to enhance their efforts to successfully implement FYSB-funded projects. Applications are due August 3, 2026. 
  • Forecasted HHS Grant: FY 2026 Basic Center Program: The Basic Center Program (BCP) provides temporary, emergency shelter; and counseling services to youth who have left home without permission of their parents or guardians, have been forced to leave home, or other homeless youth who might otherwise end up in the law enforcement or in the child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems. Applications are due August 3, 2026. 
  • Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund Grant Program: The Department of Labor announced the availability of approximately $40 million for a second round of the Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund (“Training Fund”) grants, with at least $5 million of the total available funding to be awarded to support training in the shipbuilding industry. This second round of Training Fund grants is largely the same as the first round from the original Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 02-25, but this TEGL 02-25 Change 1 contains several revisions that apply to the second round of applications. All the information applicable to the second round of Training Fund grants can be found here. Applications are due August 17, 2026. 
  • HUD Grant: FY 2026 Continuum of Care Competition and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Grants: The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness and providing funding for efforts by providers. Applications are due August 26, 2026. 

Key federal and state developments, funding opportunities, grants, and resources impacting workforce development programs and services.