POLICY UPDATE 10-23-26

October 23, 2026 | Policy

News at NYEC

Registration Is Open: Dare to Dream! NYEC’s Annual Forum will take place in Cleveland, OH on April 12-14, 2027. Early Bird registration is available now. If you would like to present, submit a proposal by November 17, 2026.
NYEC is launching our second Youth Development Practitioner Apprenticeship (YDPA) cohort: We are looking for organizations that are interested in recruiting, training, and upskilling new OR existing employees in direct service roles. Fill out the interest form for more information.

Legislative Branch

Bipartisan Opportunity Youth Caucus Co-Chairs Introduce Opportunity Youth Resolution: Congressmen Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) and Troy Carter (D-LA) introduced a resolution expressing the importance of raising awareness of opportunity youth and the necessity of investing in and supporting reconnection to education and career pathways across the United States.

US Department of Labor awards $95.5M in Grants to Support Innovative Programs for Reskilling and Reemploying Dislocated Workers: Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, Rapid Reskill Dislocated Worker Grants support 20 projects across 17 states to quickly connect workers affected by layoffs to employment and training services that lead to high-wage, in-demand occupations in industries expected to grow, including domestic manufacturing, aerospace, energy production, construction, and other occupations important to reindustrialization.

New York: Roughly a dozen facilities in the New York City metropolitan area will receive part of a $32.5 million state fund to boost healthcare workforce training and development.
Maryland: The Maryland Department of Labor has finalized a request for proposals to hire a consultant to review the state’s 13 local workforce development areas, Ruthie Davis, director of regional workforce and business development for the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, told Charles County commissioners Oct. 20. The study will ask whether Maryland needs all 13 local boards, whether some should be combined, or whether governance and funding should move to a single state-level board.

JobsFirst NYC Op-Ed – Taxing AI Labor to Protect the Future of Work: Marjorie Parker, CEO and President of JobsFirst NYC, argues that if payroll taxes decline, governments will need a way to keep revenues steady.
Forum For Youth Investment Opportunity Youth Congressional Liaison Program (OYCL) Application Opens: The Opportunity Youth Congressional Liaison Program (OYCL) is a three-month paid fellowship for youth ages 16 to 26 to equip them with the skills and tools they need to directly advocate to lawmakers. Applications are due November 16.

OJJDP FY 2026 Multistate Mentoring Programs: This funding opportunity supports the implementation and delivery of mentoring services to youth populations that are at risk or high risk for delinquency, victimization, and going
into the juvenile justice system. Mentoring services can be one-on-one, group, peer, or a combination of these types. Applications close October 29, 2026.
BJA FY 2026 Second Chance Act Community-based Reentry Program: This funding opportunity will support community-based organizations and tribal governments to provide mentoring and transitional services for people returning to communities from adult correctional facilities and who are assessed as moderate to high risk for recidivism. Applications close October 30, 2026.