The National League of Cities is pleased to partner with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on a new initiative to accelerate city efforts to design, develop, and launch workforce initiatives that build pathways into good jobs.
Achieving the promise of historic federal investments in infrastructure, clean energy and advanced manufacturing through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will require a diverse, skilled and ready workforce to build America’s next-generation infrastructure. As local leaders work to build the roads, bridges, water systems, broadband networks and semiconductor facilities in their communities, ensuring that these projects are built and maintained by local workers is essential.
The National League of Cities is pleased to partner with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on the Good Jobs, Great Cities initiative to accelerate city efforts to design, develop, and launch workforce initiatives that build pathways into good jobs created by these federal investments, especially for local residents from historically underserved and underrepresented communities, addressing key gaps and/or shortcomings in their education and workforce ecosystem. Local leaders will work closely with employers, workforce development boards and other cross-sector partners to launch or expand a workforce initiative to train and place workers in quality jobs created by these recent federal infrastructure investments.
The Good Jobs, Great Cities Academy will support up to 12 cities, towns and villages through direct support and engagement with NLC, DOL, other federal agencies, national thought leaders and peer cities to take bold and innovative actions to build strong on-ramps into in-demand infrastructure occupations for workers facing barriers to career success. Cities selected for the academy will participate in monthly coaching calls, site visits and other engagements between May 2023 and July 2024. The academy will kick off in Washington, D.C. at DOL with a two-day institute featuring engagement and technical assistance across DOL, the federal government more broadly and NLC. It will also include time for cities to connect peer-to-peer.
NLC welcomes proposals from all cities, towns and villages who are interested in building a workforce pipeline and serving as convenors, advocates and innovators catalyzing better collaboration amongst local governments, businesses, education and training providers, local Workforce Development Boards (WDBs), labor unions, labor-management partnerships, faith-based organizations, philanthropy organizations and other community-based organizations.
Please join us for an informational webinar regarding this opportunity on Monday, April 10th at 3 p.m. eastern. Cities interested in applying are encouraged to join this webinar to learn more about Good Jobs, Great Cities and its goals. Click here to register.
How to Apply
To apply to the Good Jobs, Great Cities Academy, click on the application button. Proposals must be received no later than April 28, 2023, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Only one proposal per city will be accepted.
About the Authors
How Entrepreneurship Support Organizations Fuel Economic Growth and Engagement in Oklahoma: Learning from Oklahoma City Innovation District
- Safaya Fawzi
Final Municipal Tax Credit Regulations Present Opportunities for Clean Energy Projects
- Michael Gleeson
- Carolyn Berndt
Charging up The State and Local EV Workforce Collaborative
- McKinzie McGuire
- Kyle Funk
Resilient Infrastructure and the Bond Market: Strategies to Close the Gaps
- Build America Mutual
Securing Legacies: Strategies for Resolving Heirs’ Property Issues in Cities
