HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announce that a new grant program is now available to educational institutions to help grow Pennsylvania’s workforce and expand career pathways for young people in the heavy highway industry.
The new competitive grant program is accepting applications through September 1 to support career pathway education, technical training, industry certification, and on-the-job learning in the highway industry for elementary, middle, high school, and college students. Eligible educational institutions will be able to use this funding to create or expand new education programs geared toward many skilled jobs in this industry such as construction inspector, mechanic, laborer, electrician, stonemason, welder, painter, cost estimator, and surveyor.
PennDOT is making up to $12 million in federal funding available for this program, with a maximum possible grant award of $500,000 per eligible applicant.
“Our schools and educational partners are preparing our future workforce, which is why the Shapiro administration is investing in the many ways that our young people can grow a career,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said. “These grants will help schools start or expand programs to expose students to the trades that will continue building Pennsylvania.”
All Pennsylvania educational institutions are eligible to apply, including public school districts, private schools, cyber schools, Career & Technical Centers, Youth Development Centers, and institutions of higher learning. There are no regional or residential restrictions within the state, however an educational institution’s primary campus must be located within the state of Pennsylvania.
| Your local Trimble Construction Division dealer |
|---|
| SITECH Allegheny |
| SITECH Allegheny |
| SITECH Northeast |
| SITECH Northeast |
| SITECH Allegheny |
| SITECH Northeast |
| SITECH Allegheny |
| SITECH Northeast |
Applications will need to demonstrate collaboration with industry partners such as regional industry employers, organized labor or trade unions, workforce development boards, post-secondary education partners, or community-based workforce entities.
A 2025 Associated General Contractors of America survey indicated that 92 percent of contractors are having a hard time filling open positions. Additionally, the National Center for Construction Education and Research projects that approximately 41 percent of the current construction workforce will retire by 2031. There is also strong demand for more career and technical education opportunities in schools across Pennsylvania. The new Heavy Highway Industry Career Day program will bring industry presenters and career pathway information to interested schools starting this fall.
The grant program was developed following Governor Josh Shapiro’s July 2023 executive order that created the Commonwealth Workforce Transformation Program, a first-in-the-nation job training program that provides workforce development investments to ensure companies, contractors, unions, and others who are working to build Pennsylvania’s infrastructure have the skilled workforce they need.
The program is one of the many ways the Shapiro administration is investing in Pennsylvania workers, addressing workforce shortages across industries with real solutions, and empowering Pennsylvanians to chart their own course and access the training they need to succeed.
| Your local Trimble Construction Division dealer |
|---|
| SITECH Allegheny |
| SITECH Allegheny |
| SITECH Northeast |
| SITECH Northeast |
| SITECH Allegheny |
| SITECH Northeast |
| SITECH Allegheny |
| SITECH Northeast |
“Career and technical centers give students the hands-on skills they need to be competitive in the workforce,” PDE Secretary Carrie Rowe, Ph.D., said. “Investing in these programs provides more opportunities for students get a head-start on careers that are critical here in the Commonwealth.”
