; (II) is located 50 road miles from a metropolitan statistical area; or (III) has zero program participants in an apprenticeship program. (B) Encouraging employer participation To encourage employer participation in covered apprenticeship programs— (i) that target individuals with barriers to employment, in apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, or youth apprenticeship programs, prioritizing nontraditional apprenticeship populations such as women, minorities, Indigenous people, English learners, long-term unemployed individuals, individuals with disabilities, individuals with substance abuse issues, veterans, military spouses, individuals experiencing homelessness, formerly incarcerated individuals (including individuals currently or recently incarcerated), and foster and former foster youth; (ii) that are in high-need social service-related industries, sectors, or occupations, such as industries, sectors, or occupations related to direct care workers and early childhood, elementary school, and secondary school educators; or (iii) among small- and medium-sized businesses. (C) Intermediary awards To establish or expand to significant scale sector-based partnerships for the development or expansion of covered apprenticeship programs through— (i) national industry qualified intermediaries in key sectors, including manufacturing, information technology, cyber security, health care, insurance and finance, energy, hospitality, retail, construction, and other sectors identified by the Administrator (with the advice of the Advisory Committee) as targeted for expansion under the national apprenticeship system; (ii) national equity qualified intermediaries serving nontraditional apprenticeship populations such as women, minorities, Indigenous people, individuals with disabilities, and formerly incarcerated individuals