Building U.S. Infrastructure by Leveraging Demands for Skills

To require the Secretary of Labor to award grants for promoting industry or sector partnerships to encourage industry growth and competitiveness and to improve worker training, retention, and advancement as part of an infrastructure investment. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Building U.S. Infrastructure by Leveraging Demands for Skills BUILDS Act 2. Purpose The purpose of this Act is to promote industry or sector partnerships that engage in collaborative planning, resource alignment, and training efforts across multiple businesses, for a range of workers employed or potentially employed by infrastructure industries, in order to encourage industry growth and competitiveness and to improve worker training, retention, and advancement. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Career and technical education; career guidance and academic counseling The terms career and technical education career guidance and academic counseling 20 U.S.C. 2302 (2) Career pathway The term career pathway 29 U.S.C. 3102 (3) Eligible partnership The term eligible partnership (4) Individual with a barrier to employment; industry or sector partnership; local board; recognized postsecondary credential The terms individual with a barrier to employment industry or sector partnership local board recognized postsecondary credential (5) Registered apprenticeship program The term registered apprenticeship program 29 U.S.C. 3226 (6) Secretary The term Secretary (7) State; state board The terms State State board (8) Targeted infrastructure industry The term targeted infrastructure industry (9) Work-based learning program (A) In general The term work-based learning program (B) Paid work experience In subparagraph (A), the term paid work experience 4. Grants authorized (a) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Education, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the Army Corps of Engineers, shall award, on a competitive basis, grants to eligible entities to plan and implement activities to achieve the strategic objectives described in section 5(d) with respect to a targeted infrastructure industry. (b) Grants (1) Types of grants A grant awarded under this Act may be in the form of— (A) an implementation grant, for entities seeking an initial grant under this Act; or (B) a renewal grant for entities that have already received an implementation grant under this Act. (2) Duration Each grant awarded under this Act shall be for a period not to exceed 3 years. (3) Amount The amount of a grant awarded under this Act may not exceed— (A) for an implementation grant, $2,500,000; and (B) for a renewal grant, $1,500,000. (c) Award basis (1) Geographic diversity The Secretary shall award grants under this Act in a manner that ensures geographic diversity in the areas in which activities will be carried out under the grants. (2) Priority for renewal grants In awarding renewal grants under this Act, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that— (A) demonstrate long-term sustainability of an industry or sector partnership; (B) demonstrate success in improving access and retention in work-based learning programs for workers with barriers to employment and those underrepresented in the infrastructure industry; and (C) provide a non-Federal share of the cost of the activities. 5. Application process (a) In general An eligible partnership desiring a grant under this Act shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including the contents described in subsection (b). (b) Contents An application submitted under this Act shall contain, at a minimum— (1) a description of the eligible partnership, evidence of the eligible partnership’s capacity to carry out activities to achieve the strategic objectives described in subsection (d), and the expected participation and responsibilities of each of the partners included in the industry or sector partnership involved; (2) a description of the targeted infrastructure industry served by the grant, and a description of how such industry was identified in accordance with subsection (c); (3) a description of the workers that will be targeted or recruited by the partnership, including an analysis of the existing labor market, a description of potential barriers to employment for targeted workers, and a description of strategies that will be employed to help workers overcome such barriers; (4) a description of the local, State, or federally funded infrastructure projects on which the eligible partnership anticipates engaging partners; (5) a description of the strategic objectives described in subsection (d) that the eligible partnership intends to achieve concerning the targeted infrastructure industry; (6) a description of the credentials that the eligible partnership proposes to use or develop as a performance measure, to assess the degree to which the eligible partnership has achieved such strategic objectives, which credentials— (A) shall be nationally portable; (B) shall be recognized postsecondary credentials or, if not available for the industry, other credentials determined by the Secretary to be appropriate; (C) shall be related to the targeted infrastructure industry that the eligible partnership proposes to support; and (D) may be credentials for a registered apprenticeship program; (7) a description of the manner in which the eligible partnership intends to make sustainable progress towards achieving such strategic objectives; (8) performance measures for measuring progress towards achieving such strategic objectives; (9) a description of the Federal and non-Federal resources, available under provisions of law other than this Act, that will be leveraged in support of the partnerships and activities under this Act; and (10) a timeline for progress towards achieving such strategic objectives. (c) Targeted infrastructure industry Each grant under this Act shall serve a targeted infrastructure industry that is identified by the eligible partnership through working with businesses, industry associations and organizations, labor organizations, State boards, local boards, economic development agencies, and other organizations that the eligible partnership determines necessary. (d) Strategic objectives The activities to be carried out under each grant awarded under this Act shall be designed to achieve strategic objectives that include the following: (1) Recruiting key stakeholders in the targeted infrastructure industry, such as multiple businesses, labor organizations, local boards, and education and training providers, including providers of career and technical education, and regularly convening the stakeholders in a collaborative structure that supports the sharing of information, ideas, and challenges common to the targeted infrastructure industry. (2) Supporting the training needs of multiple businesses in the targeted infrastructure industry, including needs— (A) for skills critical to competitiveness and innovation in the industry; (B) of the registered apprenticeship programs or other work-based learning programs supported by the grant; and (C) related to integrating career pathways. (3) Facilitating actions that lead to economies of scale by aggregating training and education needs of multiple businesses. (4) Helping postsecondary educational institutions, training institutions, sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs, and all other providers of career and technical education and training programs receiving assistance under this Act, align curricula, entrance requirements, and programs to the targeted infrastructure industry needs and the credentials described in subsection (b)(6), particularly for higher skill, high-priority occupations related to the targeted infrastructure industry. (5) Providing information on the grant activities to the State agency carrying out the State program under the Wagner-Peyser Act ( 29 U.S.C. 49 (6) Helping partner businesses in industry or sector partnerships to attract and retain workers from a diverse jobseeker base, including individuals with barriers to employment and those underrepresented in their industry, by identifying any such barriers through analysis of the labor market and implementing strategies to help such workers overcome such barriers. (7) Expanding the number of individuals with a barrier to employment who have access to training and education opportunities that are aligned with business needs, and providing those workers with supports necessary to address the barrier to their employment. 6. Activities (a) In general An eligible partnership receiving a grant under this Act shall— (1) designate an entity in the industry or sector partnership as the fiscal agent for the grant funds; and (2) carry out activities described in subsections (b) (as applicable), (c), and (d) to achieve the strategic objectives identified in the partnership's application under section 5(b)(5), in a manner that integrates services and funding sources to ensure effectiveness of the activities and that uses the grant funds efficiently. (b) Planning activities An eligible partnership receiving an implementation grant under this Act shall use not more than $250,000 of the grant funds to carry out planning activities during the first year of the grant period. Such activities may include— (1) establishing the industry or sector partnership; (2) convening key stakeholders as identified in the application process; (3) conducting outreach to local businesses and business associations; (4) conducting an evaluation of workforce needs in the local area; or (5) recruiting individuals with barriers to employment. (c) Business engagement An eligible partnership receiving a grant under this Act shall use the grant funds to provide services to engage businesses in efforts to achieve the strategic objectives identified in the partnership's application under section 5(b)(5). The services may include assisting businesses— (1) in navigating the registration process for a sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program; (2) by connecting the business with an education provider, including a provider of career and technical education, to develop classroom instruction to complement on-the-job learning; (3) in developing the curriculum design of a work-based learning program; (4) in employing workers participating in a work-based learning program for a transitional period before a business hires the worker for full-time employment of not less than 30 hours a week; (5) in providing training to managers and front-line workers to serve as trainers or mentors to workers participating in a work-based learning program; (6) in providing career awareness activities, such as career guidance and academic counseling; and (7) in recruiting, for participation in a work-based learning program, individuals eligible to receive additional workforce or human services, including— (A) individuals participating in programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3101 29 U.S.C. 701 (B) recipients of assistance through the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 (C) recipients of assistance through the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families established under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 (D) any other individuals with a barrier to employment. (d) Support services An eligible partnership receiving a grant under this Act shall use the grant funds to provide services to support the success and retention of individuals described in subsection (c)(7) who are participating in a work-based learning program for a period of not less than 12 months. Such services may include the following: (1) Pre-employment services Services, provided in a pre-employment stage of the program, to expand access to a work-based learning program for individuals described in subsection (c)(7). Such services may include— (A) skills training; (B) career and technical education or adult basic education; (C) initial skills assessments; (D) providing work attire, necessary tools for a work site, and other required items necessary to start employment; (E) wrap-around services, such as child care and transportation; and (F) job placement assistance. (2) Early employment services Services provided to individuals described in subsection (c)(7) who are participating in a work-based learning program during their first 6 months of employment through such program, to assure the individuals succeed in the program. Such services may include— (A) ongoing case management and support services, including the services provided in the pre-employment stage described in paragraph (1); (B) continued skills training, including career and technical education, conducted in collaboration with employers of such individuals; (C) additional mentorship and retention supports for such individuals; (D) targeted training for frontline managers, journey level workers working with such individuals (such as mentors), and human resource representatives within the business where such individuals are placed; and (E) wages and benefits for a period of not more than 6 months, during which the eligible entities shall serve as the employers of record of such individuals. (3) Employment services Services to ensure the individuals described in paragraph (2) maintain employment in the work-based learning program for at least 12 months. The services shall include support necessary to complete the work-based learning program, such as continuation of mentoring and support services provided under paragraph (2). (e) Evaluation and progress reports (1) In general Not later than 1 year after receiving a grant under this Act, and annually thereafter, the eligible partnership receiving the grant shall submit a report to the Secretary and the Governor of the State that the eligible partnership serves, that— (A) describes the activities funded by the grant; (B) evaluates the progress the eligible partnership has made towards achieving the strategic objectives identified under section 5(b)(5); and (C) evaluates the progress of the eligible partnership based on each of the following indicators of performance, as disaggregated in accordance with paragraph (3): (i) The percentage of individuals participating in a work-based learning program supported by the grant who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from participating in such program. (ii) The percentage of individuals participating in a work-based learning program supported by the grant who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from participating in such program. (iii) The median earnings of individuals participating in a work-based learning program supported by the grant who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from participating in such program. (iv) The percentage of individuals participating in a work-based learning program supported by the grant who obtain a recognized postsecondary credential, or a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (subject to paragraph (2)), during such participation in such program or within 1 year after exit from participating in such program. (v) The percentage of individuals participating in a work-based learning program supported by the grant who, during a program year, are in an education or training program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential or employment and who are achieving measurable skill gains toward such a credential or employment. (2) Indicator relating to credential For purposes of paragraph (1)(C)(iv), individuals participating in a work-based learning program supported by the grant who obtain a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent shall be included in the percentage counted as meeting the criterion under such paragraph only if such individuals, in addition to obtaining such diploma or its recognized equivalent, have obtained or retained employment or are in an education or training program leading to a recognized postsecondary credential within 1 year after exit from participating in the work-based learning program supported by the grant. (3) Disaggregation The indicators of performance under paragraph (1)(C) shall be disaggregated by— (A) each population specified in subparagraphs (A) through (N) of section 3(24) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102(24) (B) race, ethnicity, sex, and age. (f) Administrative costs An eligible partnership may use not more than 5 percent of the funds awarded through a grant under this Act for administrative expenses in carrying out this section. 7. Administration by the Secretary (a) In general The Secretary may use not more than 10 percent of the amount appropriated under section 8 for each fiscal year for administrative expenses to carry out this Act, including the expenses of providing the technical assistance and oversight activities under subsection (b). (b) Technical assistance; oversight The Secretary shall provide technical assistance and oversight to assist the eligible entities in applying for and administering grants awarded under this Act. 8. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

Summary: Building U.S. Infrastructure by Leveraging Demands for Skills or the BUILDS Act This bill requires the Department of Labor to award implementation or renewal grants to eligible industry or sector partnerships to achieve certain strategic objectives with respect to targeted infrastructure industries (e.g., transportation, construction, energy, information technology, or utilities industries). Such strategic objectives must include recruiting key stakeholders in the targeted infrastructure industries; supporting the training needs of multiple businesses in such industries; facilitating actions that lead to economies of scale by aggregating multiple businesses' training and education needs; helping grant recipients who provide career and technical education and training in aligning curricula, entrance requirements, and programs to the targeted infrastructure's needs and required credentials; providing information on grant activities to state agencies to enable them to inform unemployment compensation recipients of employment and training opportunities; helping partner businesses to attract and retain workers from a diverse job seeker base; and expanding the number of individuals with a barrier to employment, who have access to training and education opportunities that are aligned with business needs, and providing those workers with support to address such barrier.