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The Reentry Employment in Skilled Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, Registered Apprenticeships, and Training (RESTART) Initiative

ID: FOA-ETA-26-17 • Type: Posted
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Description

RESTART supports the advancement of workforce readiness skills and the attainment of employment for ex-offenders across three populations: youth (ages 15-17 years old), young adults (ages 18-24 years old), and adults (ages 25 years old and above). Funds will be awarded to eligible entities to develop programs to train ex-offenders for high-need American jobs and assist them in being productive contributors to the U.S. economy. Questions regarding this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) may be emailed to Alexander Heron at RESTART_FOA-ETA-26-17@dol.gov. We encourage prospective applicants and interested parties to use the Grants.gov subscription option to register for future updates provided for this particular FOA.
Background
The Reentry Employment in Skilled Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, Registered Apprenticeships, and Training (RESTART) Initiative is a grant program announced by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA). The initiative aims to support workforce readiness skills and employment opportunities for ex-offenders across three populations: youth (ages 15-17), young adults (ages 18-24), and adults (ages 25 and older). The goal is to develop programs that train ex-offenders for high-demand jobs in the American economy, thereby assisting them in becoming productive contributors to society.

Grant Details
The RESTART Initiative will provide funding to eligible entities to develop programs that include:

- Robust assessment of prior learning and skills;
- Pre-apprenticeships;
- Work-based learning through On-the-Job Training and Registered Apprenticeships;
- Training in artificial intelligence (AI), digital literacy, and financial literacy;
- Credential attainment;
- Paid work experiences;
- Unsubsidized employment placement;
- Development of learning and employment records (LER) or comprehensive learner record (CLR) solutions;
- Credit for prior learning;
- Acceleration solutions for rapid entry into postsecondary credentialing opportunities;
- Relevant skills training for high-demand sectors such as advanced manufacturing and maritime industries.

The initiative emphasizes evidence-based strategies that increase successful employment outcomes for participants with criminal records.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include state governments, U.S. territories, Indian/Native American tribal governments, national or regional intermediaries, and faith-based organizations. Applicants must propose to serve youth or young adults if applying as intermediaries. Each applicant can submit a maximum of two applications: one for youth/young adults and one for adults. Up to 10% of participants in youth-serving programs may qualify under specific risk factors without criminal justice system contact.

Period of Performance
The expected period of performance begins on July 1, 2026, lasting for a total of 42 months.

Grant Value
The total available funding for this initiative is $81,000,000, with an expected number of awards totaling 20. Individual grant awards will range from $1,000,000 to $5,100,000.

Place of Performance
The grant activities are intended to be performed in targeted geographic areas identified by the applicants.
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Overview

Agency
Employment and Training Administration (ETA) [DOL]
Category of Funding
Employment, Labor and Training
Funding Instruments
Grant
Grant Program (CFDA)
17.270 - Reentry Employment Opportunities
Grant Category
Discretionary
Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement
False
Source
Grants.gov
On 2/25/26 Employment and Training Administration posted grant opportunity FOA-ETA-26-17 for The Reentry Employment in Skilled Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, Registered Apprenticeships, and Training (RESTART) Initiative with funding of $81.0 million. The grant will be issued under grant program 17.270 Reentry Employment Opportunities. It is expected that 20 total grants will be made worth between $1.0 million and $5.1 million.

Timing

Posted Date
Feb. 25, 2026, 12:00 a.m. EST
Closing Date
April 15, 2026, 12:00 a.m. EDT Due in 31 Days
Closing Date Explanation
Applications must be submitted electronically no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time.
Last Updated
Feb. 25, 2026, 11:39 a.m. EST
Version
2

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
State governments
Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Additional Info
See the funding opportunity for specific eligibility requirements. National or Regional Intermediaries can be nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, that have a national or regional scope. For the purposes of this FOA, institutions of higher education are not considered National or Regional Intermediaries. Intermediaries must, in their proposal, identify sub-grantees across three or more non-contiguous metropolitan areas or rural regions. Faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply, as are all organizations. Those that meet the eligibility requirements may receive awards under this funding opportunity. DOL will not, in the selection of recipients and administration of the grant, discriminate on the basis of an organization's religious character, affiliation, exercise, or lack thereof, or on the basis of conduct that would not be considered grounds to favor or disfavor a similarly situated secular organization.

Award Sizing

Ceiling
$5,100,000
Floor
$1,000,000
Estimated Program Funding
$81,000,000
Estimated Number of Grants
20

Contacts

Contact
Employment and Training Administration
Contact Email
restart_foa-eta-26-17@dol.gov
Contact Phone
(202) 693-2606

Documents

Posted documents for FOA-ETA-26-17

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