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Congress·In Committee

Forestry: New Grants for Rural Job Training

Jobs in the Woods Act

Also known as: Jobs in the Woods Act

11 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

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Key Points

  • This bill would create a new grant program to help people in small, rural towns get trained for jobs in the timber and forestry industries. The goal is to help these communities grow their local economies by teaching workers the skills needed to manage forests and process wood products.
  • To qualify for the training, a town must have fewer than 20,000 people and be considered a low-income area. These towns must also have reliable, high-speed internet so that workers and students can use modern technology and online resources during their training.
  • The government would give out between $500,000 and $2 million to groups like local colleges, nonprofits, or Tribal governments to run these programs. These groups would focus on helping young people find careers in their hometowns instead of moving away for work.
  • The program would prioritize training that helps older workers transition or helps schools teach students about forestry careers. It also focuses on making sure people who finish the training actually get hired by local businesses.
  • Congress plans to set aside $10 million every year from 2025 through 2029 to pay for these grants. This funding is intended to address the problem of an aging workforce in the woods and keep rural timber industries strong.

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Apr 8, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced in Senate

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Jobs in the Woods Act

Bill NumberS 1336
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(9)
D: 6R: 3

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.