This legislation amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to establish a new "Digital Skills at Work Grant Program." Its primary purpose is to promote digital equity by enhancing digital skills for current and incoming workers in high-demand industries. This initiative seeks to improve access to quality jobs, fill critical 21st-century occupations, and build capacity within postsecondary education, adult education, and workforce development systems to deliver and design digital skills training. The legislation also aims to foster both digitally resilient individuals and robust education and workforce development systems. The Secretary of Labor, in collaboration with the Secretaries of Education and Commerce, will award formula grants to States that submit complete applications. These grants are designed to expand digital workplace skills for job seekers and individuals facing employment barriers. The grant amounts are determined by a formula considering the State's total population, working-age residents, and the number of individuals with indicators of low digital and information literacy skills. States receiving these funds must then award subgrants to eligible entities, prioritizing those that focus on assisting individuals with barriers to employment and ensuring geographically diverse distribution of funds. If a State does not apply, the Secretary can directly fund eligible entities within that State. In addition to State grants, the bill authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants directly to eligible entities. These competitive grants aim to foster digital equity and create digitally resilient systems and individuals, preparing them for the evolving labor market by providing opportunities to gain essential digital skills. Applicants for competitive grants must detail their proposed activities, curriculum development, professional development for instructors, and how they will engage small and medium-sized employers. The bill also explicitly includes training in digital and information literacy skills as a recognized training service under WIOA. Finally, it reserves a portion of funds for technical assistance, administration, and program evaluation, authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and the subsequent four years.
This legislation amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to establish a new "Digital Skills at Work Grant Program." Its primary purpose is to promote digital equity by enhancing digital skills for current and incoming workers in high-demand industries. This initiative seeks to improve access to quality jobs, fill critical 21st-century occupations, and build capacity within postsecondary education, adult education, and workforce development systems to deliver and design digital skills training. The legislation also aims to foster both digitally resilient individuals and robust education and workforce development systems. The Secretary of Labor, in collaboration with the Secretaries of Education and Commerce, will award formula grants to States that submit complete applications. These grants are designed to expand digital workplace skills for job seekers and individuals facing employment barriers. The grant amounts are determined by a formula considering the State's total population, working-age residents, and the number of individuals with indicators of low digital and information literacy skills. States receiving these funds must then award subgrants to eligible entities, prioritizing those that focus on assisting individuals with barriers to employment and ensuring geographically diverse distribution of funds. If a State does not apply, the Secretary can directly fund eligible entities within that State. In addition to State grants, the bill authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants directly to eligible entities. These competitive grants aim to foster digital equity and create digitally resilient systems and individuals, preparing them for the evolving labor market by providing opportunities to gain essential digital skills. Applicants for competitive grants must detail their proposed activities, curriculum development, professional development for instructors, and how they will engage small and medium-sized employers. The bill also explicitly includes training in digital and information literacy skills as a recognized training service under WIOA. Finally, it reserves a portion of funds for technical assistance, administration, and program evaluation, authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and the subsequent four years.