Critical Sectors Job Quality Grant
Strategies to improve job quality & expand economic opportunity in key industries.
About
Critical Sectors Job Quality Grant
In September 2023, the Employment and Training Administration announced it would provide an impressive $16 million in grants to organizations in 12 states. These grants are intended to support the organizations as they pilot innovative strategies to improve job quality and increase the availability of good jobs in various sectors, including care, climate resiliency, and hospitality.
Through the Critical Sectors Job Quality Grants Program, the grant recipients will have the opportunity to design and deploy programs that align with the Good Jobs Principles developed by the Department of Labor and Commerce. These principles will guide employers, local workforce systems, and partner organizations to enhance job quality in their respective communities.
The primary focus of these demonstration grants is to improve job quality in the care, climate resiliency, clean energy transition, and hospitality sectors. These grants will support industry-led, worker-centered sector strategies built through labor-management partnerships to improve job quality in key sectors. Get ready to witness a revolutionary change in how we perceive job quality!
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Event Summary
Hey, Critical Sectors Grantees!
It’s time to come together virtually and uplift one another with updates on the incredible progress you’ve made with your grants. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your peers, share insights, and keep the momentum going!
Join us for Day 2 – Part 2 of the 2026 Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Intensive—let’s keep pushing toward our goals, together.
Moderator(s)
Christina Stocks, Critical Sector Performance Lead, Division of Strategic Initiatives, U.S. Department of Labor
Presenter(s)
Ingrid Schonfield, Critical Sectors Technical Assistance Lead, U.S. Department of Labor
Jenn Smith, Division Chief, Division of Strategic Investment, U.S. Department of Labor
Zodie Makonnen, Critical Sectors Grant Lead, National Program Office, U.S. Department of Labor
Mark McEnery, Office of Grant Management, Closeout Specialist
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Event Summary
Hey, Critical Sectors Grantees!
It’s time to come together virtually and uplift one another with updates on the incredible progress you’ve made with your grants. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your peers, share insights, and keep the momentum going!
Join us for Day 2 – Part 2 of the 2026 Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Intensive—let’s keep pushing toward our goals, together.
Moderator(s)
Christina Stocks, Critical Sector Performance Lead, Division of Strategic Initiatives, U.S. Department of Labor
Presenter(s)
Ingrid Schonfield, Critical Sectors Technical Assistance Lead, U.S. Department of Labor
Jenn Smith, Division Chief, Division of Strategic Investment, U.S. Department of Labor
Zodie Makonnen, Critical Sectors Grant Lead, National Program Office, U.S. Department of Labor
Mark McEnery, Office of Grant Management, Closeout Specialist
-
Event Summary
Hey, Critical Sectors Grantees!
It’s time to come together virtually and uplift one another with updates on the incredible progress you’ve made with your grants. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your peers, share insights, and keep the momentum going!
Join us for Day 2 – Part 1 of the 2026 Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Intensive—let’s keep pushing toward our goals, together.
Moderator(s)
Christina Stocks, Critical Sector Performance Lead, Division of Strategic Initiatives, U.S. Department of Labor
Presenter(s)
Jenn Smith, Division Chief, Division of Strategic Investment, U.S. Department of Labor
Zodie Makonnen, Critical Sectors Grant Lead, National Program Office, U.S. Department of Labor
Hannah Jenuwine, H-1B Workforce Analyst, Division of Strategic Investments
-
Event Summary
Hey, Critical Sectors Grantees!
It’s time to come together virtually and uplift one another with updates on the incredible progress you’ve made with your grants. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your peers, share insights, and keep the momentum going!
Join us for Day 2 – Part 1 of the 2026 Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Intensive—let’s keep pushing toward our goals, together.
Moderator(s)
Christina Stocks, Critical Sector Performance Lead, Division of Strategic Initiatives, U.S. Department of Labor
Presenter(s)
Jenn Smith, Division Chief, Division of Strategic Investment, U.S. Department of Labor
Zodie Makonnen, Critical Sectors Grant Lead, National Program Office, U.S. Department of Labor
Hannah Jenuwine, H-1B Workforce Analyst, Division of Strategic Investments
-
Event Summary
Hey, Critical Sectors Grantees!
It’s time to come together virtually and uplift one another with updates on the incredible progress you’ve made with your grants. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your peers, share insights, and keep the momentum going!
Join us for Day 1 – Part 2 of the 2026 Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Intensive—let’s keep pushing toward our goals, together.
Note: The presentation is available in Materials below and contains the content presented in both Part 1 and Part 2.
Moderator(s)
Christina Stocks, Critical Sector Performance Lead, Division of Strategic Initiatives, U.S. Department of Labor
Presenter(s)
Zodie Makonnen, Critical Sectors Grant Lead, National Program Office, U.S. Department of Labor
-
Event Summary
Hey, Critical Sectors Grantees!
It’s time to come together virtually and uplift one another with updates on the incredible progress you’ve made with your grants. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your peers, share insights, and keep the momentum going!
Join us for Day 1 – Part 2 of the 2026 Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Intensive—let’s keep pushing toward our goals, together.
Note: The presentation is available in Materials below and contains the content presented in both Part 1 and Part 2.
Moderator(s)
Christina Stocks, Critical Sector Performance Lead, Division of Strategic Initiatives, U.S. Department of Labor
Presenter(s)
Zodie Makonnen, Critical Sectors Grant Lead, National Program Office, U.S. Department of Labor
-
Event Summary
Hey, Critical Sectors Grantees!
It’s time to come together virtually and uplift one another with updates on the incredible progress you’ve made with your grants. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your peers, share insights, and keep the momentum going!
Join us for Day 1 – Part 1 of the 2026 Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Intensive—let’s keep pushing toward our goals, together.
Note: The presentation is available in Materials below and contains the content presented in both Part 1 and Part 2.
Moderator(s)
Christina Stocks, Critical Sector Performance Lead, Division of Strategic Initiatives, U.S. Department of Labor
Presenter(s)
Jenn Smith, Division Chief, Division of Strategic Investment, U.S. Department of Labor
Zodie Makonnen, Critical Sectors Grant Lead, National Program Office, U.S. Department of Labor
-
Event Summary
Hey, Critical Sectors Grantees!
It’s time to come together virtually and uplift one another with updates on the incredible progress you’ve made with your grants. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your peers, share insights, and keep the momentum going!
Join us for Day 1 – Part 1 of the 2026 Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Intensive—let’s keep pushing toward our goals, together.
Note: The presentation is available in Materials below and contains the content presented in both Part 1 and Part 2.
Moderator(s)
Christina Stocks, Critical Sector Performance Lead, Division of Strategic Initiatives, U.S. Department of Labor
Presenter(s)
Jenn Smith, Division Chief, Division of Strategic Investment, U.S. Department of Labor
Zodie Makonnen, Critical Sectors Grant Lead, National Program Office, U.S. Department of Labor
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Event Summary
Hey there, Critical Sectors grantees! It's time to come together virtually and uplift each other with updates on the progress you've made with your grants. Don't miss this chance to engage with your peers and keep pushing towards your goals in Session 1 of the 2025 Peer-to-Peer Intensive.
Note: The presentation is available in Related Content and contains the content presented in both Part 1 and Part 2.
Moderator(s)
Zodie Makonnen, Critical Sectors Program Lead, Workforce Analyst, Division of Strategic Investments, U.S. Department of Labor
Jenn Smith, Division Chief, Division of Strategic Investments, U.S. Department of Labor
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Event Summary
Please join us for the second Performance Reporting Orientation webinar customized for Critical Sectors Job Quality (CSJQ) Grant Program Round 2: Tier 2 grantees. This webinar will introduce the world of reporting for your new grant.
Moderator(s)
Zodie Makonnen, Program Lead, Critical Sectors Job Quality Grants, Division of Strategic Investments
Presenter(s)
Christina Stocks, Critical Sectors Performance Lead, Division of Strategic Initiatives
Ingrid Schonfield, Critical Sectors Technical Assistance Lead, Division of Adult Services and Governance
