Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little and Lt. Governor Scott Bedke announced today the astounding results of the initial application period for the Idaho LAUNCH grants, the state’s expanded grant program that provides new opportunities for graduating high school seniors to pursue in-demand careers.

As of December 28, there were 12,588 high school seniors who submitted or started applications for LAUNCH grants. Around 7,500 applications were expected, and applications continue to come in.

LAUNCH offers graduating high school seniors grants that cover 80 percent, up to $8,000, of the cost to enroll in an education or training program after high school that leads to an in-demand career.

“The interest in LAUNCH truly blew us away. Clearly, Idahoans support opportunities for our young people to enter professions that drive our economy. We’ve always provided support for the careers that require a four-year university degree, but LAUNCH expanded that support to include skilled workers. These are lucrative, rewarding jobs that make our world go ‘round. We don’t want to import workers from other places. We want IDAHO kids to STAY in IDAHO,” Governor Little said.

Applications were well distributed among various regions in Idaho. Approximately 88 percent of applications received came from students enrolled in public high schools across Idaho.

Top programs of interest include:

• Healthcare technicians
• Nursing
• Engineering
• Biology
• Teaching
• Business Administration, Management
• Information Technology
• Welding
• Business, general
• Cosmetology
• Law enforcement

There are 76 providers around Idaho that will deliver the education and training offered by the LAUNCH grants, from universities and community colleges to truck driving schools, lineman college, and a host of other institutions that train Idaho’s next generation of workers.

The Idaho Workforce Development Council, led by Executive Director Wendi Secrist, successfully got LAUNCH up and running. Secrist’s full report to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee from January 1, 2024, providing detailed information on the LAUNCH program and applications received, can be found here: https://gov.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/launch-report-jfac-2024-01-01.pdf