As federal lawmakers negotiate spending levels for fiscal 2027, a nationwide coalition of 96 businesses and business associations, including NJBIA, is urging Congress to maintain or increase federal funding for workforce development programs.
Business Leaders United for Workforce Partnerships (BLU), an initiative of the National Skills Coalition, told Congressional leaders that investments in skills training are needed to help employers address workforce shortages and keep pace with technological changes, including advances in artificial intelligence.
The group delivered a letter earlier this week to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), and Senate Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in Washington, D.C.
The coalition said businesses are facing growing pressure from impending retirements, competition for workers across industries and limited access to supports such as childcare and transportation. Those challenges are particularly difficult for small and midsize businesses, which often have fewer resources to address workforce needs on their own, the letter said.
The coalition said the United States has historically underinvested in workforce development compared with other developed countries, limiting businesses' ability to expand and compete.
BLU called on Congress to maintain or increase funding for federal workforce programs serving adults and young people, including work-based learning and upskilling programs for current workers. It also urged lawmakers to provide dedicated funding for industry and sector partnerships that allow employers to help shape training programs.
The letter also calls for maintaining the current maximum Pell Grant award and closing what the coalition described as a Pell funding gap. The groups said the recent expansion of Pell Grants to short-term employer-aligned training makes the program an important tool for developing workers with skills sought by employers.
"Federal workforce programs are central" to efforts to promote economic growth and connect workers with quality jobs, the coalition said.
The groups urged Congress to finalize fiscal 2027 spending legislation without reducing current investments in federal workforce programs.
The original FY27 federal funding deadline of Sept. 30 has been extended, and President Donald Trump has signed a continuing resolution that funds the government through Dec. 11, giving lawmakers about 12 weeks to resolve FY27 appropriations.
The signatories to the Business Leaders United for Workforce Partnerships letter include:
- ABC Eastern Pennsylvania
- AccuRounds
- AE Electrical Solutions
- Aeronautical Repair Station Association
- Arkansas Advanced Energy Association
- Associated Equipment Distributors
- Barry County Chamber & Economic Development Alliance
- Barton Malow
- Boston Centerless
- Business Council of New York State
- The Business Council for Sustainable Energy
- Catholic Charities of New Hampshire
- C.D. Moody Construction
- Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc.
- Cook Group Incorporated
- Copper Development Association
- Country Maid
- Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
- Detroit Region Aerotropolis Development Corporation
- DMI Companies, Inc.
- East Bay Economic Development Alliance
- Ecoviabl LLC
- Electronic Security Association
- Fairlead
- Fargo-Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce
- GO Topeka
- Grand Rapids Chamber
- Greater New Orleans, Inc.
- Greater Phoenix Chamber
- Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
- Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Washington Partnership
- Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
- Gunnys Air Conditioning and Plumbing
- Hayden Machinery
- HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ)
- Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
- Idaho Forest Group LLC
- IEC Chesapeake
- IEC Pennsylvania
- Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc.
- Indy Chamber
- Jostin Construction
- Journey Discovery Center
- KWH Painting Service
- Laystrom Manufacturing Co.
- Longview TX Chamber of Commerce
- Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
- MACNY- Manufacturers Association of Central New York
- Magee Electric Inc.
- Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
- Mass General Brigham
- Metrics Reporting, Inc.
- Metro Atlanta Chamber
- Michigan Energy Efficiency Contractors Association (MEECA)
- Michigan Manufacturers Association
- Mid South Extrusion, Inc.- Monroe, LA
- Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
- National Tube Supply
- Nevada Contractors Association
- Next Generation in Trucking Association, Inc.
- New Jersey Business & Industry Association
- North Bay Leadership Council
- North Easton Machine Co. Inc.
- Optimax Systems Inc.
- Pan Pacific Products
- Phifer Incorporated
- Premier Water Tanks
- Prism Maritime Inc.
- QED Systems, Inc.
- Richards Industrials
- River Bend Nursing & Rehabilitation
- Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
- San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance
- Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce
- Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
- SAP
- SHINE
- Sierra Business Council
- Small Business Legislative Council
- Stratford Homes LP
- TalentFirst, Inc.
- Tech Council of Delaware
- The Bernard Group
- The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia
- Thurston County Chamber of Commerce
- Toyotetsu Texas
- Trades NKY
- Tufts Medicine
- University of Vermont Health
- Valley Industry and Commerce Association
- Waukesha Metal Products
- Wyoming Machine, Inc.
- York County Economic Alliance
