Mobilizing America’s Defense Engine (MADE) is a consortium of national partners working together to expand the use of the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Registered Apprenticeship Program training model to rapidly skill and scale our Shipbuilding, Defense and Submarine Industrial Base workforce, supporting the administration’s one million active Registered Apprentices goal.
MADE partner activities are fueled by the same passion and persistence displayed in our nation’s prior "Arsenal of Democracy." As partners, we’re not just training workers; we’re mobilizing a national response to modern defense workforce challenges.
Thank you to everyone who completed a MADE Partner Interest Form and/or submitted a Letter of Commitment. The FOA-ETA-26-19 Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program grant proposal was officially submitted on Friday, April 3, 2026. If your organization is still interested in participating in the Pay for Performance opportunity, please complete the MADE Partner Interest Form. If MADE is not awarded the grant, partner contact information will be shared with the selected awardee to ensure that you remain connected to this opportunity.
MADE is seeking partners for a USDOL “Pay-for-Performance” grant application that, if funded, will transform national Registered Apprenticeship Program expansion efforts into a high-performance “skilling engine” that delivers a high-quality, tech-ready workforce MADE in America. Desired partners include current and potential Registered Apprenticeship Program sponsors, labor unions, group sponsors (intermediaries), related instruction providers, employer associations, small businesses that want to distinguish their training as a Registered Apprenticeship Program, and other stakeholders. Please note that MADE partners are not prohibited from participating in other consortia.
MADE consortium activities will mobilize defense workforce expansion. Consortium partners elevate their organizations and benefit in many ways. To name a few:
Upon an award, eligible partners can receive payments of $3,000 to $6,000 for every new eligible Registered Apprentice.
Skill workers in digital and automation competencies and AI Literacy to ensure rapid right-skilling, re-skilling, and notorious worker retention.
Direct access to essential resources and pipeline strategies to better compete for defense contract opportunities.
Collaborate with major defense partners as a conduit to expertise, trends and potential subcontracting opportunities and projects.
Use current and improving regional/national proven strategies to train productive workers at the “speed of defense."
Any U.S. employer with eligible Registered Apprenticeship Program occupations and new Registered Apprentices can participate.
We will handle intake, verification, payment logistics and reporting — this allows you to focus on building your workforce.
You determine the skills, competencies and training focus areas your apprentices need, ensuring your program reflects real workplace needs and requirements.
Michigan has been encouraged to lead this important effort. In partnership with leaders like YOU, we’re honored to do just that and are already working to ensure consortium success.
As a legacy manufacturing state, Michigan was a recognized hub in the work of the Arsenal of Democracy. More recent initiatives build on that legacy, including the Arsenal of Innovation, Reimagining the Arsenal of Democracy, and the Michigan Maritime Strategy. Additional relevant work includes the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing (M3) initiative which supports BUILDSUBMARINES and the federal administration’s Maritime Action Plan.
Michigan has also been a Top 10 state for the number of active Registered Apprentices for over a decade. The state has gained national attention for its streamlined, 3 STEPS to Registered Apprenticeship approach to launching, managing and expanding Registered Apprenticeship Programs — helping organizations of all sizes and industries enjoy the benefits the training model delivers.
Completing the interest form is your first step to securing your place in our partnership and positioning your organization as a Shipbuilding, Defense and Submarine Industrial Base workforce leader.
Complete the MADE Partner Interest FormNotice: In the event an entity other than MADE with Registered Apprenticeship is selected for the FOA-ETA-26-19 Shipbuilding, Defense and Submarine Industrial Base Pay-for-Performance grant award, your contact information may be shared with the awardee to help ensure you remain connected to this opportunity.
Non-Endorsement Disclaimer: The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.
