POLICY UPDATE 10-2-26

October 2, 2026 |

News at NYEC

  • Save the Date! NYEC’s Annual Forum will take place in Cleveland, OH on April 12-14, 2027. Look out for registration information soon. 
  • Upcoming DOL Ask Away: You’re invited to National Youth Employment Coalition’s “Ask Away!,” a recurring monthly Q&A session, with the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Youth Services (DYS). The DYS team will be there to answer any questions you might have on policy, performance metrics, eligibility, waivers, and more! Questions can be submitted ahead of time here.  

Legislative Branch

  • The House and Senate are in recess until November 9. 
  • Representatives Introduce the Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Readiness Act of 2026: Reps. Bonamici (D-OR), Lieu (D-CA), Foushee (D-NC), Gottheimer (D-NJ), Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Panetta (D-CA), Thompson (D-MS), and Wilson (D-FL) introduced the Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Readiness Act to establish a human-centered Federal framework for artificial intelligence in education and the workforce, promote the ethical and responsible teaching and learning of artificial intelligence, provide for equitable access to artificial intelligence-ready workforce development, safeguard student and worker data privacy, and for other purposes. 
  • Representatives Introduce Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act: Reps. Ocasio-Cortez and 35 other original co-sponsors introduced the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act, which would establish a Civilian Climate Corps to help communities respond to climate change and transition to a clean economy.   

Executive Branch

From the States

  • New York: The New York Power Authority announced $10 million in funding for technical training for thousands of people for building, operating and monitoring new nuclear plants. The project aims to partner with K-12 schools, colleges, workforce training programs and union education programs to establish a backbone of nuclear-capable workers across the state. 
  • Wisconsin: Milwaukee Tool announced it has joined the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades, a national effort bringing together companies committed to strengthening the skilled trades workforce and expanding pathways into rewarding careers. Through the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades, Milwaukee Tool will work alongside companies and organizations focused on increasing awareness of skilled trades careers, expanding access to training, and helping strengthen the workforce needed to support America’s infrastructure and economy. 
  • South Carolina: The University of South Carolina and Westinghouse Electric Company have signed an agreement to jointly create a workforce development program to support the deployment of Westinghouse AP1000 pressurized water reactors. The workforce program is to be based at the university’s Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing’s Nuclear Innovation Center.

Resources

  • Bipartisan Policy Center Issue Brief: Trapped Workers: A Network Analysis of Worker Mobility in the AI Economy. The issue brief examines trends in worker movement out of AI-impacted jobs. 
  • UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent Report: Connecting, Collaborating, and Contributing: Supporting the Development of Relational Skills for the Transition to Adulthood. This report explores the importance of relational skills to young people’s future success and well-being, and explains the science behind why later adolescence (16 to 25) is a critical time to build these skills and capacities. 
  • New America Blog: The 25-Year Detour: This analysis outlines lessons from the implementation of the School to Work Opportunities Act (STWOA) of 1994.  

Federal Funding Opportunities

  • Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant: 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 applicants under this funding opportunity are Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations, and public works departments and agencies. 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 a decentralized workforce. Applications close on October 5, 2026. 
  • 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.  
  • OJJDP FY 2026 Victims of Child Abuse Act Training and Technical Assistance for Child Abuse Professionals: This funding opportunity will support a national training and technical assistance program for child abuse professionals to enhance coordinated, multidisciplinary investigations and responses to child abuse and increase the quality of intervention and treatment services available to child abuse victims. Multidisciplinary teams may include, but are not limited to, law enforcement, prosecutors, service providers, Child Protective Services (CPS) investigators, social workers, and adult and juvenile probation officers. 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.  

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