Open Call for Revitalizing U.S. Manufacturing through Global Partnerships
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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) has launched a call for proposals aimed at revitalizing domestic shipbuilding through international collaboration.
This initiative seeks partnerships that bring together U.S.-based educational institutions, training centers, apprenticeship programs, and shipyards with international counterparts to help build a new wave of skilled American shipbuilders.
The goal is to develop and implement training models, workforce pipelines, and shared practices that can be adapted across regions and sectors within the maritime manufacturing landscape. By blending domestic expertise with global innovation, participating networks aim to accelerate reskilling, build capacity, and drive long-term industry resilience. The program fosters innovation in maritime education and workforce development, blending classroom instruction with hands-on training at operational shipyards.
Funding will be provided in the form of a cooperative agreement. Approximately $8,000,000 is expected to be available to support one award, with applicants able to request up to the ceiling amount of $8,000,000. Awards are subject to the availability of federal funds, and the Department of Labor reserves the right to increase the funding or select additional recipients should more resources become available.
The period of performance is set for 48 months from the award date. This timeframe will include all necessary start-up and implementation activities, ensuring adequate time to establish and test innovative training and workforce development models that can scale nationally.
Eligibility is open to a wide range of organizations. U.S.-based applicants may include nonprofits, community-based and faith-based organizations, higher education institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, tribal colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and other minority-serving institutions, as well as for-profit entities. Non-U.S. organizations, including public international organizations, are also eligible to apply, making the opportunity accessible to a broad and diverse applicant pool.
By encouraging cross-border models and building strong education-to-industry pipelines, the initiative supports a fresh approach to sustaining America’s maritime workforce and strengthening supply chains. The program offers educational institutions, shipyards, and international partners a unique opportunity to co-create scalable solutions that can shape the future of shipbuilding at both domestic and global levels.
