The CAREERS Act would amend the USDA’s Rural Innovation Stronger Economy Grant Program to strengthen and broaden workforce training in rural areas. It expands who can participate (adding colleges and area career and technical education schools) and ties training to career pathways and industry/sector partnerships aligned with local industry needs and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) framework. The bill requires that programs address rural workforce challenges, ensure regional diversity in grant distribution, and include explicit sectors for targeting (such as broadband, utilities, health care, manufacturing, agribusiness, and more identified by local boards). It also requires reporting on employment and earnings outcomes for participants and extends the program’s funding window to 2025–2030. A one-year implementation window is provided after enactment. In short, the bill aims to make rural job training more integrated with local industry needs, broader in who can deliver the training, and more accountable through outcome reporting, while emphasizing regional balance and sector-focused initiatives.
Key Points
- 1Eligibility and partners expanded: The program would allow institutions of higher education and area career and technical education schools to participate, with pathway programs designed to integrate a local workforce development board member to ensure alignment with WIOA activities.
- 2Definitions and integration: Introduces formal definitions for “career pathway” and “industry or sector partnership” tied to WIOA, and requires career pathway programs to be integrated with local workforce development boards.
- 3Program scope and rural sectors: Authorizes and directs funding for career pathway programs and industry/sector partnerships in rural industries, including telecom/broadband, water/wastewater, electric utility services, conservation, health care, child care, manufacturing, agribusiness, and other sectors identified by local boards.
- 4Geographic distribution: Mandates regional diversity in grant recipients and participants to ensure funds reach multiple rural areas and regions.
- 5Reporting and funding window: Reforms program reporting to include employment and earnings outcomes for participants under WIOA indicators; extends the funding period to 2025–2030; sets an implementation timeline with an effective date not later than one year after enactment.