Annie Brown Kurowski
Annie Brown Kurowski is a Vice President in the nonprofit practice at McAllister & Quinn. Annie oversees a diverse portfolio of clients including national nonprofits, associations, municipalities, higher education institutions, career and technical colleges and private corporations. She brings more than 15 years of experience in securing millions in federal, state, county and foundation grants across the behavioral health, education, social services, justice, workforce development and research sectors.
Supporting Skilled Trades Training: Grant Opportunities for Career and Technical Colleges
Associated Builders and Contractors estimates that the construction industry will need more than 500,000 new skilled workers each year. How will the U.S. meet this need?
The United States is on the cusp of a workforce wave. In 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projected a 5.3% increase in skilled trades employment, significantly outpacing the national job growth rate of 3.1%. This surge represents hundreds of thousands of new positions.
Yet the demand for skilled labor is rising far faster than the pipeline of trained workers. The systems responsible for preparing the next generation – apprenticeship programs, community colleges, and technical training providers – are struggling to keep up.
Over the next decade, “training” and “workforce development” will continue to be buzzwords, supported by increased investment from federal, state, local, and private partners. Ensuring that American workers are prepared for these high-demand fields will be a defining challenge and opportunity for the coming years.
What’s Driving the Need for Skilled Labor?
There are many reasons skilled labor is in high demand. However, two factors stand out:
The statistics about the existing construction workforce are equally concerning. According to the National Center for Construction Education and Research:
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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that there is nationwide housing shortage of approximately 4.7 million homes At the same time, our nation faces a massive shortfall of residential construction workers. nationwide housing shortage of approximately 4.7 million homes. At the same time, our nation faces a massive shortfall of residential construction workers.
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A 2026 report by BlackRock cites the rapid investment in AI technologies, which creates higher demand for workers to construct data centers and the required infrastructure.
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The average age of a construction worker is 57.
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For every four that leave or retire, only one new trainee enters the field.
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There is a shortage of approximately 500,000 electrical workers nationwide.
Federal Grants for Workforce Development
The federal government is investing heavily to train the necessary workers.
Pending in the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill is $13,700,000,000 in grant funding to support workforce development, including:
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$50 million for the Workforce Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities(WORC) Initiative, a grant program through the Department of Labor
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$110 million for Re-Entry Employment Opportunities
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$285 million for Apprenticeships
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$65 million for Strengthening Community College Training Grants through the Department of Labor
State governments, including Pennsylvania, New York, and California, are also investing in skilled trades training through competitive grants.
To be competitive, technical colleges and other training institutions should invest in building collaborative partnerships with nonprofits, veteran-serving organizations, social service organizations, Workforce Investment Boards, and other organizations that provide access and referral to affordable healthcare, behavioral health counseling, housing, and transportation. These wraparound services help workers overcome barriers to employment and are often required services in grant applications.
Through these partnerships, workers will have the skilled training and supportive services they need to thrive and pursue career pathways.
Workforce Pell
For Career and Technical Colleges and institutions, the expansion of Workforce Pell will provide financial assistance for students enrolled in shorter, career-focused training programs. The program broadens Pell Grant access to short-term training options that are closely tied to in-demand careers.
The American Association of Community Colleges states that while Workforce Pell represents an opportunity to expand career programs, community colleges will be required to build the data, evidence, and accountability systems needed to prove strong employment and earnings outcomes. The association recommends building those systems now, in preparation for the program release.
Unlock Funding for Workforce Development with McAllister & Quinn
The workforce wave is coming. Is your institution ready?
At McAllister & Quinn, we help organizations secure the resources they need to build, expand, and sustain high-impact workforce development programs. With more than $18 billion in competitive grant funding secured for our clients, our team brings unmatched expertise in workforce development strategy and government relations.
Contact me, at akurowski@jm-aq.com to schedule a free consultation.
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