WASHINGTON, D.C. — As AI reshapes industries and redefines the skills employers need, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today announced five organizations have been selected for a new national initiative designed to help more students connect their education to real career opportunities and help employers build a stronger future workforce.
Chosen from nearly 200 applicants nationwide, the five organizations will each receive grants aimed at building a bridge between classrooms and careers — giving students access to real employers, industry credentials, and hands-on experience in fields ranging from construction and electrical work to advanced manufacturing and AI.
“There’s a real mismatch in this country,” said U.S. Chamber Foundation President Michael Carney. “Employers can’t find the workers they need, and young people can’t find a clear path to the workforce. These groups are closing that gap. They’re putting employers in the same room as educators and students and building the kind of real-world experience that turns a classroom into a launchpad.”
Too many students graduate without a clear sense of what jobs are available, what skills those jobs require, or how to get there. At the same time, businesses — especially in skilled trades, health care, and technology — are struggling to find qualified workers. In the trades alone, demand continues to outpace supply across much of the country, yet too many students are not introduced to those pathways early enough to see them as a viable option.
The U.S. Chamber Foundation's Skilled Trades Academy, run through its Hiring Our Heroes program, is already addressing part of that gap — offering hands-on training to prepare transitioning service members, veterans, and military families for high-demand careers in the skilled trades. Pathways with Purpose Through Career-Connected Learning builds on that commitment by reaching students earlier, before they enter the workforce.
The initiative puts employers at the center of the solution — working alongside schools to design learning experiences in fields such as construction, electrical work, and shipbuilding that reflect what the job market needs, in the regions where those needs are most acute.
The five selected organizations:
- Colorado Succeeds will focus on construction and skilled trades in the Denver metro area, helping students earn industry-recognized credentials and college credit through hands-on learning tied to real hiring needs.
- NC Chamber Foundation, working with the North Carolina Business Committee for Education, will help students explore and prepare for careers in the electrical industry in four targeted regions.
- Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation will work across Montgomery and Warren Counties to deepen employer involvement in student learning and career preparation in advanced manufacturing and health sciences. The effort is expected to reach an estimated 77,000 students and serve as a model for broader expansion across the state.
- San Diego Regional Economic Development Foundation will work with employers and education partners to identify the AI-related skills increasingly needed for entry-level jobs and develop a new credential to help students show they have those skills.
- Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce will help young people ages 12 to 24 build careers in maritime and shipbuilding industries by offering credentials, job readiness training, and mentoring, with direct input from local employers.
Although each project is tailored to local needs, all five share a common goal: helping young people better understand their options, build relevant skills, and move more confidently toward education and careers that offer long-term opportunity.
“Colorado’s employers are ready to help build the next generation of talent, and that work must begin long before students graduate from high school,” said Scott Laband, president and CEO of Colorado Succeeds.
In addition to funding, the selected grantees will participate in a cohort supported by the U.S. Chamber Foundation that includes coaching, peer learning, and access to national expertise and tools. That support is intended to help the grantees strengthen their local work while sharing lessons that can benefit other communities across the country.
With support from the Pathways & Workforce Funder Collaborative, Pathways with Purpose reflects the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s broader commitment to helping communities create stronger connections between education and opportunity — including ensuring students are equipped for a workforce increasingly shaped by AI. By investing in student-centered, employer-led efforts, the initiative aims to support young people, strengthen local economies, and help communities grow.
About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation harnesses the power of business to create solutions for the good of America and the world. We anticipate, develop, and deploy solutions to challenges facing communities—today and tomorrow.
About the Pathways & Workforce Funder Collaborative
The Pathways & Workforce Funder Collaborative is a coalition of over 50 K-12, postsecondary, and workforce funders working to expand access to high-quality career pathways for youth.
