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CAREERS Act
3/6/2025, 9:06 AM
Summary of Bill HR 291
The proposed amendments in this bill include expanding the eligibility criteria for grant recipients to include tribal governments and organizations. This change would allow Native American communities to access funding and resources to support economic development initiatives in rural areas.
Additionally, the bill seeks to increase the maximum grant amount available to recipients, providing them with more financial support to implement their innovative projects. This increase in funding could potentially lead to greater economic growth and job creation in rural communities across the country. Overall, Bill 119 HR 291 aims to enhance the effectiveness of the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy Grant Program by expanding eligibility criteria and increasing funding opportunities for rural communities. These changes could have a positive impact on economic development in rural areas and help to address the unique challenges faced by these communities.
Congressional Summary of HR 291
Creating Access to Rural Employment and Education for Resilience and Success Act or the CAREERS Act
This bill reauthorizes the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program and expands the program to include support for career pathway programs or industry or sector partnerships in industries in rural communities.
As background, this Department of Agriculture (USDA) program offers grant assistance to create and augment high-wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses, support industry clusters, and maximize the use of local productive assets in eligible low-income rural areas.
Under the bill, RISE grant program funds may be used to support career pathway programs (i.e., a combination of rigorous and high-quality education, training, and other services) or industry or sector partnerships in industries in rural communities. These industries may include public utilities (i.e., telecommunications, broadband, water, wastewater, disposal, and electric supply services), conservation practices and management, health care, child care, manufacturing, and agribusiness.
The bill removes the current requirement that the program provide grants (to the maximum extent practicable) for job accelerators in at least 25 states. Instead, USDA must ensure the regional diversity of grant recipients or participants in providing for job accelerators, career pathway programs, and industry or sector partnerships.
The bill also includes additional reporting requirements for career pathway programs and industry or sector partnership grant recipients.
