DOL Awards $95.5 Million for Dislocated Worker Reskilling Projects

On October 19, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) awarded $95.5 million through Rapid Reskill Dislocated Worker Grants to support 20 workforce projects across 17 states. The grants are intended to help workers affected by layoffs gain training and placement in high-growth occupations, including manufacturing, aerospace, energy, and construction. The awards bring federal workforce funding to projects designed to connect dislocated workers with new employment pathways while supporting employers’ demand for skilled labor.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and state agencies are among the public entities involved in administering and delivering the projects. Named awardees include Per Scholas Inc., Pursuit Transformation Company Inc., and Adaptive Construction Solutions Inc. Other organizations identified in connection with the awards include The Boot and SER-Jobs for Progress of the Texas Gulf Coast Inc. The listed state partners include the Florida Department of Commerce, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. These awardee and agency relationships are relevant starting points for firms assessing potential subcontracting or service partnerships.

For GovCon firms, the key distinction is that DOL has already made these grant awards. The $95.5 million is not an open contract opportunity and should not be treated as a pool of funding available through a new DOL competition. Instead, commercial opportunities may arise as grantees procure services and resources to carry out their projects. Training providers, credentialing organizations, apprenticeship sponsors, employment-service firms, and contractors with relevant delivery capabilities can identify the awardees and ask about their implementation plans, procurement processes, timelines, and gaps in service capacity.

The projects cover 17 states, while the locations specifically identified in the source information include New York, Texas, Florida, Michigan, and Ohio. Companies should use these state signals to focus market research and partner outreach, while confirming each grantee’s actual project footprint before pursuing a lead. DOL Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling said the grants “also help ensure a workforce for the Golden Age of reindustrialization and empower workers to stay rooted in their hometown.” That framing points to two practical priorities for potential partners: aligning training with regional employer demand and designing delivery models that help participants access local jobs. Firms should position services around measurable training, credential, apprenticeship, placement, and employment outcomes rather than the headline grant total alone.

• DOL awarded $95.5 million through Rapid Reskill Dislocated Worker Grants on October 19, 2026.
• Funding supports 20 workforce projects across 17 states; the announcement concerns completed grant awards, not a new solicitation.
• Target occupations include manufacturing, aerospace, energy, and construction.
• Named awardees include Per Scholas Inc., Pursuit Transformation Company Inc., and Adaptive Construction Solutions Inc.
• Other identified organizations include The Boot and SER-Jobs for Progress of the Texas Gulf Coast Inc.
• Public entities involved include the Employment and Training Administration and state agencies, including departments in Florida, Michigan, and Ohio.
• Locations specifically identified include New York, Texas, Florida, Michigan, and Ohio; verify project-level coverage with each grantee.
• Potential delivery work may include training, credentials, apprenticeships, and employment services that support grantees’ implementation.
• Contractors should approach grant awardees and relevant state partners about needs and procurement plans; do not treat the announced grant total as an available contract award.