American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund

The American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund is managed by the Arkansas Department of Commerce and fully funded ($35.8M) through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor.
The fund was created to address the urgent need to grow and modernize the U.S. manufacturing workforce and in direct response to the national call (White House Executive Order 14278) to expand access to high-quality registered apprenticeship programs.
Incentives will be distributed through a pay-for-performance model tied to defined outcomes, reducing barriers for sponsors and supporting program innovation, scale, and sustainability.
Through this incentive funding model, Arkansas will motivate sponsors on a national scale to develop, expand, and/or join existing advanced manufacturing registered apprenticeship programs and hire apprentices.

Eligible incentive fund applicants include:

Individual registered apprenticeship program sponsors (i.e., apprenticeship programs operated by one business/employer for building its own skilled labor force); and
Group sponsors or consortia (i.e., apprenticeship programs operated by groups of employers, unions, industry intermediaries, trade associations, etc.).
Applicants may also refer to U.S. CFR § 29.2 for definitions of “Employer” and “Sponsor”.

The incentive fund supports apprenticeships across more than 120 advanced manufacturing occupations, including but not limited to:

How to Apply

Application
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until 100% of available incentive funds are obligated.
Applicants will receive an automated message confirming the intake application was submitted.
During the initial pilot phase, funding limits may apply to maximize participation across sponsors and employers.

How the Incentive Fund Works

The American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund uses a pay-for-performance model that rewards measurable results.

$3,500 incentive per apprentice after successful completion of a 90-day probationary period
Incentives support newly enrolled apprentices, upskilled incumbent workers, and eligible former apprentices entering new advanced manufacturing programs
Sponsors receive incentive payments and are required to pass through the majority of funds to participating employers, reducing barriers to hiring and training apprentices

Resources

Contact

For questions, contact:

Arkansas Office of