Oct 22, 2026 | BlackRock
Heartland Forward has announced a new grant from The BlackRock Foundation to help expand pathways to skilled careers for students. The support will connect more young people to the skills, training, and opportunities they need to build careers close to home, while helping communities develop the workforce needed to compete and grow.
"America's skilled trades gap is growing, and employers across the country are struggling to find the electricians, welders, mechanics, and technicians needed to support economic growth and build the infrastructure our communities depend on,” said John Kelly, Global Head of Corporate Affairs at BlackRock. “We need to move faster to connect more people to these family sustaining careers and expand access to training. Heartland Forward is helping create new pathways into the trades, especially in rural communities, and we're proud to support its work to strengthen local workforces, expand opportunity, and help the next generation succeed."
The grant reflects the importance of investing not only in America’s infrastructure, but also in the skilled workers needed to build and maintain it. That theme was central to a fireside chat at the 2026 Heartland Summit on October 1, where BlackRock Chairman and CEO Larry Fink joined Axios co-founder Mike Allen to discuss American competitiveness and economic growth in the heartland.
Larry Fink and Mike Allen onstage at the 2026 Heartland Summit. Photo Credit: White Wolf Creative
Together, the new grant by The BlackRock Foundation and BlackRock’s participation in the Summit reflect a shared commitment to helping American workers build more secure financial futures. Expanding access to skills and career pathways can lead to strong, rewarding jobs and can help more people build financial resilience, save for the future and prepare for a more secure retirement. This work advances BlackRock’s purpose of helping more people invest better to live better.
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