YouthBuild 2025 Grant: $98 Million Funding Opportunity to Empower Opportunity Youth in the United States

The United States Department of Labor (DOL), through its Employment and Training Administration (ETA), has announced the YouthBuild 2025 Grant Opportunity, a major federal funding initiative aimed at improving education, employment, and long-term career outcomes for opportunity youth across the United States.

Through this competitive grant program, the Department of Labor will award funding to eligible organizations to deliver pre-apprenticeship training, education, and job placement services for young people facing barriers to employment and education.

About the YouthBuild 2025 Program

YouthBuild is a nationally recognized workforce development program that prepares young people for quality jobs in construction and other high-demand industries while also supporting them with education credentials and wrap-around services. Participants gain hands-on experience by helping to build or rehabilitate affordable housing in their communities, creating both workforce skills and community impact.

Programs funded under YouthBuild 2025 must include construction training, with the option to offer a Construction Plus component that provides vocational training in additional in-demand sectors.

Funding Details

• Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ETA-26-38

• Total Estimated Funding: $98,000,000

• Expected Number of Awards: 57

• Award Amount per Grant:

  • Minimum: $1,000,000

  • Maximum: $2,000,000

• Funding Instrument: Grant

• Cost Sharing / Matching: Required

Eligible Applicants

Eligible entities include:

• Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status)

• Public and private institutions of higher education

• State, county, city, township, and special district governments

• Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations

• Independent school districts
  Faith-based organizations are strongly encouraged to apply, provided they meet eligibility requirements.

Key Program Components

YouthBuild-funded programs provide:

• Pre-apprenticeship occupational skills training

• Education services (including high school equivalency support)

• Job placement and career pathways

• Construction training with hands-on housing projects

• Wrap-around support services, including transportation, childcare, and housing assistance

Application Deadline

All applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov no later than March 2, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should review the full Funding Opportunity Announcement on Grants.gov and submit their application through the official portal.

Apply here

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