The announcement came from Washington in the usual formal way, but it felt different on the ground. The U.S. Department of Labor said it would make about $81 million available in 2026 through its RESTART program, which aims to help people who have been in prison find jobs. The press release mentioned “jobs that pay the mortgage.” In a small workforce center in western Pennsylvania, staff members were already updating grant portals.
It could be that 2026 will be a turning point for reentry funding, or at least a test of whether federal support leads to stability in local communities. The Employment and Training Administration runs the RESTART grants, which help people who have been in prison get jobs in skilled trades, manufacturing, and registered apprenticeships. Shipbuilding even got a special mention. That detail seemed oddly specific, like it came from the Industrial Age.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Lead Federal Agency | U.S. Department of Labor |
| Major 2026 Initiative | RESTART (Reentry Employment in Skilled Trades) |
| Total Announced Funding | $81 million |
| Administering Office | Employment and Training Administration |
| Youth-Focused Grants | Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention |
| Key Legislation | Second Chance Act |
| Federal Grant Portal | Grants.gov |
| Official DOL Release | https://www.dol.gov |
| Federal Grant Listings | https://www.grants.gov |
A case manager at one county office looked through the Notice of Funding Opportunity while clients sat in plastic chairs along the wall. The fluorescent lights made a buzzing noise above. Some of those clients had worked with welding before in prison industries programs. Some people were starting from scratch and making resumes with gaps that were hard to explain in interviews. These kinds of grants promise paid work experiences, digital literacy training, and pre-apprenticeships. It is a different question if they can overcome stigma.
It seems that policymakers are starting to see reentry as more than just criminal justice reform; they see it as a way to improve the workforce. The tight job market in some areas has made people rethink what it means to be “work-ready.” It seems that investors and employers think that a lack of workers justifies expanding the pool of candidates. But faith and action are not the same thing.
The Second Chance Act, in addition to RESTART, continues to fund reentry programs through different federal agencies. This year, there are youth-focused opportunities like grants from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to help moderate- to high-risk youth before and after they are released. Deadlines are close. Applications are thick. Nonprofits that don’t have a lot of administrative power often have trouble just getting the paperwork together.
Local leaders in Erie County, Pennsylvania, recently suggested moving a reentry program into county government after it had been run by nonprofits for years. The reason was simple: grant cycles are hard to predict. When funding runs out, staff turnover goes up. If the money runs out, programs that show a big drop in recidivism can still go away. As that change happens, it seems like sustainability might be the real prize in 2026, not just new awards.
Funding from the state level is also going on. The Adult Reentry Grant and HIRE 2.0 programs in California are putting money into housing and job mobility. Nonprofits and agencies that help people reintegrate into society in Texas can get criminal justice grant money. Each state adds its own priorities on top of federal ones, making a patchwork that can seem both dynamic and disjointed.
The numbers are very convincing. Some counties’ reentry programs have recidivism rates of less than 10% for participants, while baseline rates are between 40% and 50%. People use those numbers in grant proposals and council meetings. They make a good case. But it’s still not clear how these successes will work on a larger scale when funding becomes available across the country. What works in a well-run pilot may not work as well when it is used in many places.
In the winter, there was a job fair for people who were going back to work. It was held in a high school gym with folding tables. While former prisoners stood in line, some holding folders with freshly printed certificates, people from construction and manufacturing companies handed out brochures. Next to a sign that said “Second Chances Build Communities,” there was a welding helmet on display. The employers’ voices were full of hope, but they were also full of caution.
It’s hard not to notice that partnerships with registered apprenticeship sponsors are becoming more important for 2026 grants. That means that there will be more structured, credentialed pathways instead of temporary placements. In theory, it’s a smart move. Apprenticeships give you a job, skills, and a certificate that is recognized. But they also need support from businesses that might still be unsure.
Technology is another force that is shaping these grants. Digital literacy and AI training are now standard parts of many funding announcements. That detail makes it seem like policymakers are looking ahead to a future job market where automation changes entry-level jobs. It is not clear if people who are involved in the justice system get the same level of training as other workers.
This year, nonprofits looking at Grants.gov see a big but competitive chance. It is expected that up to 20 RESTART projects will be funded across the country. That leaves a lot of people who want to apply on the outside looking in. There is a quiet scramble going on. Grant writers are working on stories late into the night, workforce boards are holding emergency strategy calls, and advisory boards are arguing about which groups to focus on first.
As this happens, it seems like reentry funding is finally being seen less as charity and more as a part of economic policy. That change is important. It changes the focus of the conversation from redemption to productivity and from social service to labor supply. It is still unclear if that framing will keep bipartisan support or limit the mission.
