Blog

America Forward Announces Inaugural Blazing a Trail Cohort 

Ten sectoral training providers selected to drive public workforce funding toward impact 

Contact: communications@americaforward.org 

WASHINGTON, DC, July 30, 2026 – America Forward announced today the inaugural cohort of its Blazing a Trail Initiative. As part of this newly launched initiative, ten high-impact sectoral training providers from across the country will lead efforts to shift public investment toward evidence-based workforce programs and expand economic opportunity for learners from low-income backgrounds. Made possible through the generous support of Ascendium Education Group, this initiative pairs a cohort of leading organizations with tailored technical assistance, peer learning opportunities, policy research, and direct engagement with policymakers to expand workforce development to make the strongest impact.

“We are proud to partner with some of the most effective workforce training providers in the country. For too long, public investment in sectoral strategies has not matched the incredible evidence base that clearly demonstrates sectoral programs’ impact,” said Deborah Smolover, Executive Director of America Forward. “Drawing on the America Forward Coalition’s longstanding efforts to elevate the voices of leading practitioners, we are committed to breaking down the barriers that have kept public investment from reaching sectoral providers and to building a workforce system that works for everyone.”

“Public workforce dollars should be invested in programs that deliver economic mobility for their participants,” says Ascendium Strategy Director Carolynn Lee. “We’re pleased to support America Forward’s Blazing a Trail Initiative because it will help more evidence-based training providers access public funding and expand opportunity for learners from low-income backgrounds.”

Sectoral training providers prepare people for high-quality jobs in industries with strong local demand and opportunities for career advancement. These programs involve a robust set of activities and supports, including deep employer partnerships; occupational skills training tied to in-demand careers; job-readiness support, including career navigation, placement, and post-placement advising; extensive support services, ranging from financial literacy to access to wraparound supports like housing and transportation; and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Meet the Blazing a Trail Initiative cohort

The Blazing a Trail cohort members represent a diverse range of industries and communities – from healthcare and IT to construction, advanced manufacturing, and automotive technology – in cities and regions across the country. The inaugural cohort includes:

• JVS Bay Area
• JVS Boston
• Merit America
• NPower
• Per Scholas
• Project QUEST
• Propel America
• STRIVE International
• Vehicles for Change
• Year Up United

Through the Blazing a Trail Initiative, America Forward will work alongside cohort members to provide in-depth, tailored technical assistance supporting each organization’s public workforce funding strategy. At the same time, America Forward and the cohort members will partner to assess areas for potential improvement across federal, state, and local funding streams and to identify and elevate prospective solutions in conversation with policymakers and stakeholders nationwide.

The need for this work is significant. Public workforce funding has declined by roughly two-thirds in inflation-adjusted terms since 1979, from approximately $60 billion to around $20 billion today, severely limiting the system’s capacity to invest in high-quality programs. Yet the opportunity is equally significant: four key public funding streams alone- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Employment and Training Program (SNAP E&T), apprenticeships, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)- represent over $46 billion in annual public investment. Despite a compelling evidence base, leading sectoral training providers remain heavily dependent on private and philanthropic funding. The Blazing a Trail Initiative directly addresses this gap, working to ensure that public dollars flow to the programs proven to drive economic mobility for learners from low-income backgrounds.

For more information, visit americaforward.org or contact leadershipteam@americaforward.org. 

About America Forward and Ascendium Education Group

America Forward is a national nonpartisan policy and advocacy organization that unites our nation’s leading social entrepreneurs with policymakers to advance a public policy agenda that fosters innovation, rewards results, and catalyzes cross-sector partnerships to expand opportunity for all. America Forward leads the America Forward Coalition, a network of 100+ of the nation’s most impactful and innovative non-governmental organizations that develop and advocate for more effective public policies to advance opportunity and move all of America forward. Since its founding more than 15 years ago, America Forward has emphasized the importance of evidence-based approaches and continued evidence-building across policy domains, including education and workforce development. To learn more, visit americaforward.org.   

Ascendium Education Group® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization driven by the belief that learning after high school gives people the power to build better futures. Our national philanthropy focuses on increasing opportunities for learners from low-income backgrounds to achieve upward mobility through postsecondary education and workforce training. We partner with organizations whose objectives align with our core strategies to expand opportunity, support learner success, and connect and align systems. Our grantees include postsecondary education and workforce training providers, intermediaries, researchers, and media organizations from across the U.S. To learn more, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org.