FY26 Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Technical Assistance Grant Program

The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Technical Assistance Grant Program is administered by the Womens Bureau within the U.S. Department of Labor. This program is authorized under the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Act of 1992 and subsequent appropriations legislation. The Womens Bureau has a longstanding mission to improve the welfare of wage-earning women, enhance their working conditions, increase their efficiency, and advance opportunities for profitable employment. Through this funding opportunity, the Bureau seeks to expand access for women to high-quality career pathways in industries where they have historically been underrepresented. The primary purpose of this grant program is to provide technical assistance to employers and labor unions to support the recruitment, training, and retention of women in apprenticeable and nontraditional occupations. These occupations include, but are not limited to, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, information technology, mining, and shipbuilding. The program emphasizes increasing women’s participation in Registered Apprenticeships and similar training pathways that lead to sustainable, well-paying careers. Applicants are expected to design and deliver services that directly address barriers to entry and persistence for women in these fields. Funding under this program may be used for several core activities. These include developing or expanding pre-apprenticeship programs that lead to Registered Apprenticeships or other nontraditional skills training opportunities. Grantees may also provide ongoing orientations, training, or resources to employers, unions, and workers to foster inclusive and supportive workplace environments. Additionally, funds may support the creation of support groups, peer networks, and supportive services aimed at improving retention outcomes for women participating in these occupations. While the funding is flexible within these categories, all proposed activities must align with the program’s objective of increasing women’s participation and success in nontraditional careers. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this grant program, which lowers the barrier to entry for eligible organizations. The program anticipates awarding approximately 28 grants, with individual awards ranging from 350000 to 750000 dollars and a total program funding level of approximately 10000000 dollars. These funds are intended to support comprehensive technical assistance strategies that can be implemented at scale and demonstrate measurable outcomes in workforce participation and retention. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to community-based organizations, including nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, provided they are not institutions of higher education. Faith-based organizations are explicitly encouraged to apply and will be considered equally without regard to religious affiliation. Applicants may also apply as a consortium of community-based organizations, provided that a lead entity is identified and a formal consortium agreement is submitted. All applicants must meet the detailed eligibility criteria outlined in the full funding opportunity announcement. Applications must be submitted electronically through the appropriate federal grants platform by the stated deadline. The closing date for applications is July 6, 2026, and submissions must be received no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time. The application process typically requires completion of standard federal forms, a detailed project narrative outlining the proposed technical assistance approach, budget documentation, and any required attachments such as partnership agreements. The Department of Labor evaluates applications based on criteria such as program design, organizational capacity, alignment with program goals, and expected impact. The timeline for this opportunity reflects a single annual funding cycle, with the opportunity posted in early June and closing in early July. While the announcement does not explicitly state recurrence, the program is historically funded through annual appropriations, suggesting a likely recurring cycle. Award notifications and project start dates are expected to follow after the review period, though specific dates are not provided in the synopsis. For questions or technical issues, applicants are directed to contact the Womens Bureau via the provided email address.