Revitalizing Domestic Manufacturing by Developing the Next Generation of Americas Shipbuilders through International Partnerships

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), housed within the United States Department of Labor (USDOL), is forecasting a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Revitalizing Domestic Manufacturing by Developing the Next Generation of America’s Shipbuilders through International Partnerships." The initiative reflects ILAB's mission to promote fair labor practices internationally and support U.S. economic competitiveness through global labor engagement. This prospective grant focuses on workforce development in shipbuilding, a critical sector tied to national infrastructure, manufacturing resurgence, and maritime security. The planned cooperative agreement, funded at approximately $8,000,000 in total federal investment, will support the development and execution of a four-year technical assistance project. Its primary objective is to establish an International Shipbuilding Fellowship designed to enhance the skills and capabilities of the U.S. shipbuilding workforce. The project aims to build international partnerships between U.S.-based training entities—such as educational institutions, apprenticeship programs, and shipyards—and counterpart organizations in Finland, Japan, Canada, and/or the Republic of Korea. These international collaborations are intended to facilitate knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and hands-on training that aligns with global best practices. The grant’s scope covers a broad set of eligible uses related to technical training, curriculum development, capacity building among training institutions, and workforce upskilling. Funding will be awarded through a cooperative agreement, indicating a high level of involvement by ILAB in the implementation of project activities. While the grant is not yet open for applications, the estimated application due date is September 2, 2025, with a potential project start date of December 29, 2025. The opportunity is currently in the forecast stage, and ILAB has issued a Notice of Intent to share early details with prospective applicants. Eligibility for this forecasted opportunity includes a wide array of organizational types. Eligible entities include commercial, international, educational, and non-profit organizations, along with faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, and public international organizations (PIOs). There is no matching fund requirement for this opportunity, making it more accessible to a range of applicants. The grant is classified under Assistance Listing 17.401 – International Labor Programs, and the funding activity falls under the "Other" category, as clarified in the announcement. Prospective applicants should note that no formal solicitation is currently available, and applications are not yet being accepted. Questions about the forecast may be submitted via email to OGM_ILAB@dol.gov, but the agency has indicated that limited information is available until the full FOA is published. Interested parties are encouraged to subscribe via Grants.gov to receive future updates. The estimated post date for the full announcement is July 28, 2025. This funding opportunity, under FOA number FOA-ILAB-25-45, is designed for national implementation and is available to eligible organizations throughout the United States. While no preliminary application or letter of intent deadline is provided, the final application submission must be completed electronically by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on September 2, 2025. Once published, full proposal guidelines, evaluation criteria, and programmatic objectives will be made available on the U.S. Department of Labor website and Grants.gov.