$550,000 will support tribal workforce programs in New Mexico
ESPAÑOLA, NM – Native Workforce Partners (NWP) has been selected to receive funding via the Families and Workers Fund to expand career pathways in sustainable industries. Supported by the LANL Foundation and sponsored by New Mexico Community Trust, NWP is dedicated to creating opportunities for Native Americans in the workforce. The two-year $550,000 Powering Climate & Infrastructure Careers Initiative grant will help NWP hire its first full-time staff, expand workforce training and technical assistance, and support tribal nations in preparing for climate and infrastructure careers.
“Investing in our workforce is an investment in our future. WIOA 166 and 477 programs offer more than employment and training services; they provide a pathway to financial stability and long-term success for our participants. We are excited to continue expanding these opportunities and elevating the potential within our Native communities,” said NWP Co-chair Rosemary Reano.
As a collective of 15 tribal workforce programs, NWP will coordinate training and build pathways into sustainable jobs in climate and infrastructure sectors. The LANL Foundation will administer grant funds in year one as NWP transitions to independent operations in partnership with NMCT by 2027. One of the first regional tribal workforce collaboratives in the country, NWP serves 14 tribal workforce programs in New Mexico and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in Texas.
“This grant will allow Native Workforce Partners to hire staff, strengthen its capacity for state-level advocacy, and expand pathways into climate and infrastructure careers. Increasing the number of Tribal members leading and working on projects in their own communities and lands is a powerful lever for tribal sovereignty,” said LANL Foundation Policy and Impact Program Manager Bonavita Quinto-MacCallum.
“The Powering Climate & Infrastructure Careers Initiative invests in innovative workforce strategies that create jobs, center workers, and help communities thrive. Native Workforce Partners is transforming this vision into reality for Native communities by building meaningful career opportunities that expand economic opportunity,” said Families & Workers Fund Program Director Sarah Mostafa.
The Powering Climate & Infrastructure Careers Initiative has invested more than $33 million nationwide to expand career pathways for workers living on low incomes in clean energy, construction, broadband, transportation, water management, and other climate and infrastructure sectors. Last year, it awarded 32 grants as part of the Powering Climate & Infrastructure Careers Challenge, an open call for grant funding that received more than 460 applicants from across the nation.
To learn more about Native Workforce Partners, visit nativeworkforcepartners.org.
About Native Workforce Partners
Established in 2024, NWP empowers and advocates for Native Americans in New Mexico, collaborating across our communities to promote culturally relevant education, training, and workforce development programs designed to help our people thrive, at home and in their careers. We represent fifteen Tribes, Nations, Pueblos, and nonprofits across New Mexico, including the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in El Paso, Texas. We’re a collective of organizations receiving grants from the Department of Labor, Division of Indian and Native American Programs, and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Rooted in our communities, we’re sharing knowledge and resources to foster collective growth.
About the Families and Workers Fund
The Families and Workers Fund is a platform for collective action and a multi-donor fund supported by 25 diverse funders working together to help end poverty in the U.S. and to help all people — especially those living on low incomes — have a shot at economic mobility through uplifting careers. The Families and Workers Fund is housed at the Amalgamated Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) charity.
About the LANL Foundation
Since 1997, the LANL Foundation has been investing in education, learning, and human potential in Northern New Mexico. Through diverse programming and collaboration with key partners, the LANL Foundation works to ensure that all New Mexicans have the skills and confidence they need to be self-sufficient lifelong learners who are engaged in their communities. LANL Foundation is dedicated to the enhancement of students’ access to academic and technical opportunities, leading to quality jobs by supporting college and career readiness in schools, districts, communities, Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations. For more information visit lanlfoundation.org.
