Biden-Harris administration awards $16M to improve job quality, expand access to good jobs in critical sectors, including care, climate resilience, hospitality

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $16 million in grants to support organizations in 12 states as they pilot strategies to improve job quality and increase the availability of good jobs in the care, climate resiliency and hospitality sectors.

While essential to the economy’s growth and vitality, these critical sectors have historically provided lower-paying jobs with few benefits, worker protections and opportunities for advancement. 

Announced today at the White House Summit on Building Climate-Resilient Communities, the Critical Sectors Job Quality Grants Program grants will enable recipients to design and deploy programs aligned with the Good Jobs Principles developed by the departments of Labor and Commerce. These principles provide a guide for employers, local workforce systems and partner organizations to enhance job quality in their communities. 

“The Critical Sectors Job Quality grants will enable recipients to create and expand partnerships to develop training programs to provide the workforce needed in high-demand industries,” explained Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Brent Parton. “This funding supports President Biden’s Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers” by incorporating equity, job quality and worker voice into the care, climate resilience and hospitality sectors.” 

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the program supports grantees that build on existing coalitions and launch new partnerships with worker groups, employers and local training providers to embed job quality into the fabric of the local labor economy. Awards are being made in two tiers: tier one recipients will receive funding to help create worker-centered partnerships, while tier two recipients will receive funding to support established partnerships. 

The Critical Sectors Job Quality Grant Program recipients are as follows:

 *Recipient located in Utah, but funding will support communities in Indiana.