Apprenticeship Building America, Round 2 (ABA2) | FOA ETA 24 04

Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA ETA 24 04

Apprenticeship Building America, Round 2 (ABA2) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), released under Funding Opportunity Number FOA ETA 24 04. The purpose of this round is to keep expanding, diversifying, and strengthening the national Registered Apprenticeship system by funding partnerships that can build or scale Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) and related talent pipelines. The core idea behind the program is that registered apprenticeships are a practical workforce strategy because they connect structured training directly to paid, quality employment, while also helping employers develop a dependable pipeline of skilled workers.

ABA2 funding is organized around three main grant categories, each aimed at improving how people enter and succeed in registered apprenticeships and how communities build the infrastructure to support them. The first category focuses on ensuring equitable RAP pathways by supporting pre-apprenticeship programs and partnerships that intentionally lead participants into RAP enrollment. In practice, this means strengthening the on-ramps into apprenticeship for individuals who may face barriers to entry, using pre-apprenticeship as a bridge to prepare people for the expectations, requirements, and success factors of a registered apprenticeship. The second category supports the creation of education system-aligned pre-apprenticeship and RAPs, emphasizing closer alignment between apprenticeship models and educational institutions or systems so that pathways are clearer, credentials are meaningful, and transitions between education and apprenticeship are smoother. The third category supports Registered Apprenticeship Hubs, which are intended to function as capacity-building centers that help coordinate, promote, and expand registered apprenticeship across partners, industries, and communities. Collectively, these categories are designed to advance the Administration goals of modernizing and strengthening the National Apprenticeship System, not only by launching programs but by improving the broader systems and partnerships that allow apprenticeships to grow and endure.

The opportunity is open to a range of applicant types that commonly lead or convene workforce and education partnerships. Eligible applicants include county governments and city or township governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The listing also includes an "Others" category, signaling that additional entities may qualify depending on the detailed eligibility rules in the full Funding Opportunity Announcement. In general, the eligibility design reflects the program emphasis on cross-sector collaboration, since effective registered apprenticeship expansion typically involves employers, labor and workforce intermediaries, education providers, and public partners working together.

From a funding standpoint, ABA2 awards are grants, with an award ceiling listed at $8,000,000 per award. ETA expected to make about 18 awards under this announcement. The original application closing date was April 15, 2024, and the announcement record shows a creation date of February 21, 2024. The program is associated with Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) number 17.285 and is categorized under Employment, Labor and Training, which is consistent with ETA workforce development investments.

For applicants or partners seeking clarification, questions about the FOA are directed to ABA2FOA-ETA-24-04@dol.gov. The announcement also encourages interested parties to use the Grants.gov subscription feature so they can receive updates tied to this specific funding opportunity. For anything beyond these high-level details, including exact eligibility boundaries, required partnership structures, allowable activities, performance expectations, and evaluation criteria, the controlling source is the full Funding Opportunity Announcement itself.

• The Employment and Training Administration in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Apprenticeship Building America, Round 2 (ABA2)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 17.285.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $8,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 18 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for FOA ETA 24 04

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: