CAREERS Act

This bill significantly amends the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program administered by the Department of Agriculture, aiming to enhance workforce training and economic development opportunities within rural communities by broadening the program's scope and focus. The legislation expands the types of educational institutions eligible for grants, specifically including area career and technical education schools alongside institutions of higher education. It introduces and emphasizes the development of career pathway programs and industry or sector partnerships , aligning them with industry sectors in rural areas. Grant objectives are updated to address workforce challenges in specific rural industries, such as telecommunications, healthcare, and manufacturing, and to promote targeted skills development initiatives. Furthermore, the bill adds new criteria for evaluating grant applications, including an entity's ability to address issues like worker displacement, an aging workforce, and youth migration. It mandates that the Secretary ensure regional diversity in grant distribution for these new programs. Recipients will also be required to report on employment and earnings outcomes for participants in career pathway programs. Finally, the bill extends the program's authorization for appropriations from fiscal years 2019-2023 to 2025-2030 , with an effective date set within one year of enactment.