The Montana Department of Labor and Industry has been awarded more than $800,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor to expand the state’s Registered Apprenticeship system over the next three years, with a targeted focus on AI infrastructure and related industries.
The award, running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, comes through the federal State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula, Round 4 grant program and builds directly on Gov. Greg Gianforte’s 406 JOBS Initiative, established by executive order in August 2025 to modernize Montana’s workforce system and ensure every Montanan has a pathway to a career.
“Montana is proud to lead the nation in expanding apprenticeship opportunities for leading industries to grow our skilled workforce and meet the needs of job creators,” Gianforte said. “With this additional funding, the Department of Labor and Industry will work towards an ambitious goal of growing our programs by creating additional pathways to serve more Montanans.”
The department will use the funding to pursue a set of statewide targets over the three-year period, including 20% year-over-year growth in active Registered Apprenticeship participation — targeting nearly 5,000 active apprentices by June 2029 — 50% growth in pre-apprenticeship pathways, 36 new apprenticeship pathways over the grant period and a 15% reduction in program approval time.
A priority focus will be expanding apprenticeships in AI infrastructure and supporting industries including utilities, professional and technical services and advanced manufacturing. To incentivize growth in those areas, the department will offer $1,000 incentives to employers who incorporate AI competencies into existing trade schedules and $3,500 incentives to employers who register a new apprentice in a targeted occupation and retain that apprentice through six months.
“This funding lets us build on the momentum we’ve already created through 406 JOBS,” said Sarah Swanson, commissioner of Labor and Industry. “Registered Apprenticeship gives Montanans a way to earn a paycheck while they train for in-demand careers, and this award helps us bring that opportunity to more workers and more employers across the state.”
Montana’s Registered Apprenticeship program is already active in 47 of the state’s 56 counties and has added 16 new occupations since 2022, including construction and building inspectors, barbers, wind turbine service technicians and veterinary technicians. Employers sponsoring apprenticeship programs in Montana may also qualify for the state’s Apprenticeship Tax Credit.