Best Workforce Grants in Alaska

The Vocational Fund for Alaska's Future Grants support projects aimed at developing a skilled workforce in Alaska's natural resource industries. Eligible applicants, including nonprofits and educational institutions, can apply for funding to enhance skills in areas like plumbing, welding, and engineering. Preference is given to initiatives benefiting rural communities and sectors such as oil and gas. This grant fosters career awareness and skill acquisition, promoting economic growth in Alaska.

The 2026 Alaska Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program seeks to enhance workforce development in marine-related professions and improve seafood safety and management. This initiative encourages projects that foster technological innovations in fishing practices and promote outreach on sustainability and quality of seafood. By strengthening partnerships among industry, researchers, and communities, the program aims to build a competitive and sustainable marine community in Alaska, with all projects required to be conducted within the state.

State Training and Employment Program

The State Training and Employment Program (STEP) is administered by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), Alaska Workforce Investment Board (AWIB) and funded by a set aside from the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The purpose of STEP is to enhance the quality and accessibility of in-state training and employment services for Alaska residents to help meet the workforce needs of employers in the state. In addition, the program seeks to increase resident employment in industries where a high number of nonresidents are working, reduce future unemployment claims, and foster economic growth in all regions by meeting employer demand for a skilled workforce.

STEP provides several types of training opportunities, including industry-specific training; on-the-job training, apprentice training in a USDOL Registered Apprenticeship program; institutional or classroom job-linked training; and support services necessary to enable a participant to attend training and/or obtain or retain a job.

Benefits of the program

STEP targets participants who may be employed or employable, have worked in a job covered by unemployment insurance in any state, and who need training to improve their prospects for obtaining or retaining employment. The goal of STEP is to help self-motivate individuals with realistic goals to gain essential skills for employment success. The benefit to STEP participants as they move forward in their careers aided by STEP training is increased earning potential. Employers who invest in a skilled workforce gain a competitive edge in business and benefit from costs incurred in supporting unemployment insurance for those not working.