The Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO) program provides funding, authorized as Research and Evaluation under Section 169 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014, for justice-involved youth and young adults and adults who were formerly incarcerated.
Our goal is to develop strategies and partnerships that facilitate the implementation of successful programs at the state and local levels that will improve the workforce outcomes for this population. These projects are designed to test the effectiveness of successful models and practices found in community and faith-based environments and other government systems that have not been tested for their adaptability in the public workforce system.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NOW OPEN! Reentry Employment in Skilled Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, Registered Apprenticeships, and Training (RESTART)
The Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO) program’s Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will award competitive grants for its Reentry Employment in Skilled Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, Registered Apprenticeships, and Training (RESTART) initiative. REO’s RESTART grants will be awarded to states/Territories/Tribes, with a portion of funds reserved by appropriation statute for national and regional intermediaries that serve youth/young adults. RESTART provides youth (ages 15-17 years old), young adults (ages 18-24 years old), and adults (ages 25 years old and above) with criminal records, former incarceration, or involvement in the criminal justice system with trainings that support in-demand industries and services that evidence-based research suggests increase the likelihood of successful employment outcomes. Such training and employment services include assessment of prior learning and skills; pre-apprenticeships; work-based learning through On-the-Job Training and Registered Apprenticeships; artificial intelligence, financial, and digital literacy training; among others. Training will focus on in-demand skilled trades including shipbuilding occupations, occupations essential to the build out of AI infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, nuclear energy, transportation, domestic mineral production, and information technology including AI. To deliver these services, grantees are required to partner with a local reentry organization, the state apprenticeship agency (SAA), the state workforce development board (SWDB), a criminal justice system partner, and at least three employers within the industries targeted by this FOA.
On approximately March 10, 2026, a pre-recorded Prospective Applicant Webcast will be available at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities. While review of this webcast is strongly encouraged to support successful grant applications, it is not mandatory.
Learn about the U.S. Department of Labor's grant process.
Questions and comments can be sent to: reo.eta@dol.gov
For REO Resources and REO e-Newsletter, visit: https://reo.workforcegps.org