Creative Workforce Investment Act

S 3572, the Creative Workforce Investment Act, creates a new federal grant program to fund arts and creative workforce initiatives, directly supporting creative workers (like artists, writers, musicians, and cultural educators) and the organizations employing them. The bill authorizes $300 million for fiscal years 2024-2026 to award competitive grants to states, nonprofits, and community groups for programs that employ creative workers to create public-facing arts projects - such as community events, public art installations, or documenting marginalized histories - while requiring grantees to maintain union agreements and avoid outsourcing. Grantees must report annually on employment outcomes, including how many workers transitioned to unsubsidized jobs and their earnings after program completion. This program aims to strengthen local creative economies through direct employment in the arts, with strict requirements to protect worker rights and ensure public access to the resulting cultural work.