POLICY UPDATE 8-28-26
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.
- Free, Ready-To-Use Pre-Apprenticeship Curricula: Looking for a ready-to-use way to strengthen your youth workforce programs and provide career exposure opportunities? Explore two free, flexible pre-apprenticeship curricula focused on positive youth development and mental health. Learn more at our info session on September 1 (2PM EST).
Legislative Branch
- Hearing on Streamlining Workforce Opportunities: On September 2, 2026, at 10:15 AM, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections will hold a hearing titled Less Red Tape, More Opportunity: Unleashing American Workers and Job Creations. The hearing will be livestreamed and can be viewed here.
- Representatives Harder and McBath Introduce Workforce Bill: The bill would authorize workforce development innovation grants for the implementation, expansion, and evaluation of evidence-based workforce programs, and for other purposes.
Executive Branch
- White House Highlights Educational Freedom, Putting Children & Families First Agenda: The White House highlighted the Trump Administration’s education agenda, including efforts to expand school choice, return greater authority to states and local communities, and increase investments in literacy, school psychologists, and AI in education. The release also highlighted the Fostering the Future initiative, which provides scholarships and other educational opportunities for young people transitioning out of foster care.
From the States
- Alabama: Reid State Community College received a $101,800 grant from Innovate Alabama to support rural workforce development in southwest Alabama. The funding will support efforts to expand workforce opportunities and strengthen connections between education and local employers.
- Tennessee: Tennessee launched its Workforce Pell application portal to allow eligible higher education institutions to seek approval for short-term training programs. The state’s framework covers 8–14-week programs that prepare students for in-demand or high-skill, high-wage occupations, with programs required to meet completion and job-placement benchmarks. Tennessee also requires employers to participate in program design and verify that training aligns with workforce needs.
Resources
- LA County Releases Youth@Work Program Review and Redesign Report: The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity released a comprehensive review of its Youth@Work program, outlining recommendations to strengthen pathways to education, quality employment, and long-term economic mobility for young people. The report examines the county’s flagship youth workforce program and provides a roadmap for improving its design and impact.
- Register for the Monthly OY Stakeholder Meeting: NYEC, along with our national partners, hosts a monthly meeting where we share federal updates, newly released resources, and opportunities to engage in federal policy discussions. Meetings are on the fourth Monday of every month at 4pm Eastern.
Federal Funding Opportunities
- OVC Grant: FY 2026 Preventing Trafficking of Girls: This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the OVC FY 2026 Preventing Trafficking of Girls. This opportunity will support prevention and early intervention services for girls who are at risk of, or are victims of, human trafficking as defined by 22 U.S.C. § 7102(11). Applications close September 29, 2026.
- EPA Grant: Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) section 1459E to accelerate career pipelines in the water utilities sector and provide access to water utility workforce opportunities. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support expanding career opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector and elevating public awareness about jobs in the water workforce. Eligible activities include apprenticeship and internship programs, education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students, regional industry collaborations, and training programs designed to support decentralized workforce. Applications are due October 5, 2026.
