The U.S. Department of Labor’s RESTART initiative has moved into the award stage, with official government records confirming multimillion-dollar grants supporting employment, training and apprenticeship pathways for people with criminal records or previous justice-system involvement.
The Reentry Employment in Skilled Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, Registered Apprenticeships, and Training initiative, identified as FOA-ETA-26-17, was announced by DOL on February 25, 2026.
DOL made approximately $81 million available, said it intended to fund up to 20 projects nationwide, and set individual awards at up to $5.1 million. The department now lists RESTART among the Employment and Training Administration’s Grants Awarded in 2026.
Funding at a glance
Selected RESTART Awards Confirmed in Government Records
Indiana Department of Workforce Development — $5.1 million
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development states that it secured a one-time $5.1 million RESTART grant to connect formerly incarcerated adults age 25 and older with employment, training and Registered Apprenticeships in high-demand industries.
Indiana’s announcement states that approximately $4.3 million of the award will support regional service delivery through Local Workforce Boards, including direct training, work-based learning, supportive services and employer incentives.
Louisiana Works — $5.1 million
Louisiana Works reported on July 21, 2026 that it had been awarded $5.1 million through the U.S. Department of Labor’s RESTART initiative to expand employment opportunities for people returning from incarceration.
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry — $2,999,999
Pennsylvania announced on August 18, 2026 that its Department of Labor & Industry received a $2,999,999 U.S. Department of Labor investment to implement RESTART for approximately 400 justice-involved youth and young adults through December 2029.
Pennsylvania states that $335,999 is allocated to state implementation and $2,664,000 is distributed among four local workforce boards: Partner4Work in Allegheny County ($851,000), Lancaster County Workforce Development Board ($518,000), Montgomery County Workforce Development Board ($444,000), and Philadelphia Works ($851,000).
Delaware Department of Labor — $2,499,999
The Delaware Department of Labor’s federal grant disclosure identifies a $2,499,999 U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration competitive award for the RESTART Initiative Grant — Adult.
Delaware’s disclosure reports that the RESTART program is federally supported by that award with no nongovernmental financing.
What the federal program supports
DOL said RESTART is designed to help people with criminal records or previous justice-system involvement obtain training and employment in skilled trades and other high-demand industries.
Eligible services identified by DOL include pre-apprenticeships, work-based learning, AI and digital-literacy training, credential attainment and paid work experiences, with a focus on connecting participants to Registered Apprenticeships.
DOL said approximately $30 million of the funding would be allotted to national or regional intermediary organizations serving youth and young adults. Remaining funds were intended for states, territories and tribes implementing state-led projects integrated with the public workforce system under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Funding is moving through state and regional workforce systems
The recipient records show federal reentry workforce funding moving through established workforce-development systems rather than operating only as stand-alone grant programs.
Indiana plans to direct approximately $4.3 million of its $5.1 million award through Local Workforce Boards. Pennsylvania is distributing $2.664 million of its nearly $3 million award among four local workforce boards while retaining $335,999 for state implementation.
The structure connects federal reentry funding with state workforce agencies, local workforce boards, employers, training organizations, apprenticeship programs and other participating service organizations.
What the funding means
RESTART represents a substantial federal investment in employment pathways for people entering or returning to the workforce following justice involvement.
For participants in funded programs, RESTART can expand access to occupational training, credentials, paid work experiences, pre-apprenticeships and Registered Apprenticeship pathways.
For state and regional workforce systems, the awards add federal resources for programs connecting eligible participants with training and employment opportunities in industries experiencing workforce demand.
Federal award status
DOL currently lists RESTART — FOA-ETA-26-17 among the Employment and Training Administration’s Grants Awarded in 2026.
The underlying funding announcement described approximately $81 million as available and said the department intended to fund up to 20 projects.
Until DOL publishes or exposes a complete recipient-level award table, the final number of recipients and total amount obligated under the competition should be treated as not yet established by the public federal record reviewed for this article.
Official sources
U.S. Department of Labor — Grants Awarded in 2026 Employment and Training Administration awarded-grants portfolio U.S. Department of Labor — RESTART announcement February 25, 2026 program announcement and funding framework U.S. Department of Labor — FOA-ETA-26-17 RESTART funding opportunity announcement Indiana Department of Workforce Development RESTART award announcement Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry RESTART initiative announcement and local workforce allocations Delaware Department of Labor Federal Grant Funding Disclosure Statements Louisiana Works RESTART award announcementFollow justice funding, reentry and workforce developments
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