Bill > HR5344

This bill, titled the "Jobs in the Woods Act," aims to establish a competitive grant program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address forestry workforce development needs. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. The USDA Secretary will create a grant program to provide funding to eligible entities (nonprofit organizations, states, tribes, local governments, and higher education institutions) to carry out career pathway training programs related to forestry operations and forestry products industries in eligible areas (non-metropolitan low-income communities with access to broadband and a population of 50,000 or fewer). 2. The grants will be awarded for a period of up to 5 years, with a minimum of $500,000 and a maximum of $2,000,000 per grant. 3. The grant applications must demonstrate the applicant's capacity to implement the career pathway training program, the need for such a program in the region, the intended reach of the program, plans for sustainability, and implementation details. 4. Priority will be given to applicants that address issues of an aging workforce and youth migration, partner with secondary schools, and assist with forestry workforce placement and hiring. 5. The bill authorizes $10 million in appropriations for each fiscal year from 2024 to 2028 to carry out the grant program.