State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula Round 4 (SAEF4) Grant Program

The Department of Labor, through the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), is announcing the availability of approximately $85 million in formula funding for the fourth round of the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF4) grant program. This initiative aims to fuel the expansion of Registered Apprenticeship by providing funds to states and territories to enhance their capacity to register programs and support apprentices and employers. The funding will be distributed through a new performance-based formula, incentivizing states to set statewide expansion goals, dedicate funding to specific industry sectors, commit to leveraged funds of at least 50 percent of their base allocation, and for states with federally recognized State Apprenticeship Agencies, to publish average program approval times. Eligible applicants include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and territories with over 100 active apprentices as of the end of Fiscal Year 2025. The grant program is authorized under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025. Funds can be used for a variety of activities, including hiring additional staff, streamlining registration procedures, improving alignment between apprenticeship, workforce, and education systems, and supporting the adoption of learning and employment records. The period of performance for these grants is 36 months, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026. This program does not require cost sharing, but does require a commitment of leveraged resources.