1. Authorization of Grants, Contracts, and Cooperative Agreements The Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor shall award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities on a competitive basis for the following purposes: (1) Encouraging employer participation To encourage employer participation in programs under the national apprenticeship system— (A) that target individuals with barriers to employment in youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, or apprenticeship programs, prioritizing nontraditional apprenticeship populations such as women, minorities, long-term unemployed, individuals with a disability, individuals with substance abuse issues, veterans, military spouses, individuals experiencing homelessness, individuals impacted by the criminal or juvenile justice system, and foster and former foster youth; (B) that are in high-need social service-related industries, sectors, or occupations, such as direct care workers and early childhood educators; (C) that target individuals currently or recently incarcerated; or (D) among small- and medium-sized employers. (2) In-demand industry sector or occupation grants for small- and medium-sized businesses An eligible entity that receives funds under this section shall use such funds to encourage participation of small- and medium-sized businesses in programs under the national apprenticeship system, which may include— (A) providing financial assistance to employers to support costs related to the program, such as training incumbent workers as mentors or employees supervising the on-the-job learning; (B) supporting the cost of related instruction or wages for program participants during related instruction; (C) providing technical assistance to small- and medium-sized businesses on the program registration process and leveraging other available funds to support carrying out programs supported by this grant