Federal RESTART Grants Expand Career Pathways — Strengthening Reentry, Skilled Trades, and Economic Mobility

Federal RESTART Grants Expand Career Pathways — Strengthening Reentry, Skilled Trades, and Economic Mobility 2/25/2026

The ULA Network is committed to supporting initiatives that create life-changing career pathways through workforce development, apprenticeship readiness, and second-chance employment opportunities.

A newly announced federal funding opportunity is helping accelerate this mission.

On February 25, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor announced approximately $81 million in RESTART (Reentry Employment in Skilled Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, Registered Apprenticeships, and Training) grants to support individuals returning from incarceration in accessing meaningful employment pathways.

🔗 Full Announcement:
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20260225

Expanding Access to Skilled Careers

The RESTART initiative supports programs that provide:

• Workforce training
• Career readiness
• Apprenticeship preparation
• Credential attainment
• Paid work experiences

With a focus on high-demand sectors such as:

✔ Skilled Trades
✔ Infrastructure
✔ Advanced Manufacturing

These investments recognize that employment is one of the most important predictors of successful reentry and long-term stability.

Aligning With Proven Workforce Development Programs

Across New York and Long Island, mission-driven organizations are already building the types of workforce pipelines the RESTART initiative seeks to scale.

LevelUp Career & Technical Education

Programs like LevelUp provide exposure to construction and infrastructure careers through hands-on learning and mentorship — helping participants build confidence and envision sustainable futures.

🔗 https://levelupcreprograms.org

ULA Network Skilled Trades Workforce Development Initiative

The ULA Network works with labor, community, and workforce partners to:

• Promote apprenticeship pathways
• Support second-chance employment
• Highlight union career opportunities
• Connect individuals to careers offering:

✔ Family-sustaining wages
✔ Healthcare
✔ Pension security
✔ Long-term economic mobility

These pathways help transform workforce development into community development.

Community-Based Models Supporting Reentry & Opportunity

Pathways to Apprenticeship (P2A)

🔗 https://p2atrades.org

Pathways to Apprenticeship is a nonprofit pre-apprenticeship training program that provides access to building trades careers — particularly for low-income and justice-involved individuals.

P2A works with community partners to deliver free training for reentry populations, helping participants transition into union apprenticeship opportunities.

Since its founding, P2A has helped hundreds of individuals — many of whom were formerly incarcerated — enter building trades careers, with the majority maintaining long-term employment in the industry.

Their mission is clear:

➡️ End intergenerational poverty by creating access to middle-class careers in the trades.

Opportunities Long Island (OLI)

🔗 https://opportunitieslongisland.org

Opportunities Long Island is an apprentice-preparation program designed to connect individuals from underserved communities to union construction careers.

Through hands-on training and career readiness, OLI prepares participants for lifelong careers in the building trades — offering:

• Exposure to multiple union trades
• Skills training
• Mentorship
• Direct career pathways

Graduates frequently move into union apprenticeship programs, creating sustainable opportunities and long-term economic stability.

Workforce Development is Economic Development

Programs like:

• RESTART
• LevelUp
• ULA Workforce Initiatives
• Pathways to Apprenticeship
• Opportunities Long Island

demonstrate how workforce development:

✔ Expands opportunity
✔ Strengthens communities
✔ Reduces barriers to employment
✔ Supports economic mobility

By connecting individuals to apprenticeship pathways, these initiatives help create:

➡️ Stronger families
➡️ Safer communities
➡️ More resilient local economies

Building Inclusive Career Pathways

The RESTART grants encourage collaboration between:

• Workforce organizations
• Community partners
• Apprenticeship sponsors

This aligns with the ecosystem the ULA Network continues to help elevate — one where training, mentorship, and union career pathways work together to create sustainable futures.

Organizations interested in learning more about funding opportunities can visit:

🔗 https://www.dol.gov/grants

A Shared Commitment to Opportunity

The ULA Network will continue to support initiatives that:

✔ Expand access to career pathways
✔ Promote workforce inclusion
✔ Strengthen apprenticeship pipelines
✔ Drive long-term economic growth

Through collaborative models like RESTART, LevelUp, P2A, OLI, and ULA’s Skilled Trades Workforce Development Initiative, we can continue turning second chances into lifelong careers.

About ULA Network

The Union Labor Advisory Network exists to support, educate, and promote union labor and workforce opportunity through storytelling, education, and collaboration that advances economic mobility and community development.

Sources & References

U.S. Department of Labor
🔗 https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20260225

Pathways to Apprenticeship
🔗 https://p2atrades.org

Opportunities Long Island
🔗 https://opportunitieslongisland.org

LevelUp CTE Programs
🔗 https://levelupcreprograms.org

About the Union Labor Advisory Network (ULAnetwork)  

The ULA Network is dedicated to honoring the strength and solidarity of union labor by educating, connecting, and empowering individuals through shared experiences, opportunities, and support. Our mission is to uplift families and communities by promoting the value of union careers, economic development, and workforce resilience. Through collaboration and storytelling, we aim to build a future where every person understands the power of unity, dignity in work, and the promise of a better tomorrow. http://www.ulanetwork.com  Subscribe to the ULA Network for more interviews, insights, and inspiration about union labor, skilled trades, and the opportunities waiting for you in the construction industry!

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