BUILDS Act

The BUILDS Act (S 4205) provides federal grants to fund industry partnerships that develop worker training programs in infrastructure sectors like construction, energy, and transportation. It directly affects workers with barriers to employment (such as those receiving welfare or lacking skills), infrastructure businesses, and training providers by creating paid on-the-job training programs paired with classroom instruction. Key mechanisms include $2.5 million implementation grants for new partnerships and $1.5 million renewal grants for existing ones, requiring partnerships to track outcomes like job placement rates, credential attainment, and diversity metrics. The law mandates partnerships to collaborate with businesses, labor groups, and education providers to align training with industry needs while reporting annual progress on specific performance indicators.