Agency Priority Goals, or APGs, are an agency’s near-term, implementation-focused priorities that the heads of each major federal agency set every two years. Today, those federal agencies published the FY 2024 Quarter 4 updates of progress on Performance.gov.
Today marks the fourth and final quarterly update of FY 2024, with progress updates covering the period of July 1 through September 30, 2024. Federal agencies drove meaningful change in communities across the country by streamlining access to resources for small business owners, helping workers gain new opportunities, fostering more inclusive workplaces, and making homes safer and healthier. Read on for highlights from agencies making a real impact on Americans nationwide.
Streamlining Certifications for Small Businesses
Agency: Small Business Administration
Agency Priority Goal: Advancing Customer Experience Across the SBA
Goal Overview: The Small Business Administration (SBA) is working to make its programs more user-friendly, efficient, and accessible by September 30, 2025.
Why is this goal important? Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and other SBA customers currently have to navigate multiple portals to access SBA services. These inefficiencies make it harder for customers to access critical services and limit the SBA’s ability to fully understand customer needs. To address this, the SBA is working to unify government contracting certifications onto one platform, introducing a single login system for at least 50% of its services, and launching new surveys to gather customer feedback. The objective is to create a seamless, consistent experience for customers, better support for small businesses throughout their journey, and a stronger ability to respond to customer needs through a more streamlined, customer-first approach.
Q4 Highlight: In late FY 2024, the SBA launched MySBA Certifications, a unified platform that simplifies the process for small business owners to apply for certifications in key programs like 8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, and veteran-owned small businesses. With a single secure login and a streamlined application, businesses can save time and reduce paperwork.
Learn more about MySBA Certifications.
Building a Workforce That Reflects America
Agency: Department of Labor
Agency Priority Goal: An Economy for all Workers
Goal Overview: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) across its work by September 30, 2025.
Why is this goal important? Equal opportunity is a core American value, yet many individuals and communities still face systemic barriers that limit their ability to succeed. The DOL aims to make equity a central and sustainable part of its operations—from hiring and outreach to policymaking and program execution. Achieving this will ensure that every worker’s voice is heard, their rights are protected, and a more inclusive workforce is built for all.
Q4 Highlight: The Employment and Training Administration published the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Round 6 Funding Opportunity Announcement to create economic mobility and address inequities faced by marginalized communities of color and other underserved groups. The initiative aims to create jobs that align with the Good Jobs Principles, helping workers remain and succeed in the Northern Border, Appalachian, and Delta regions. These grants, totaling $48.9 million, supported 35 projects across 18 states, focusing on career training and services to prepare jobseekers for stable jobs in high-demand industries.
Creating Healthier Homes Through Lead Safety
Agency: Housing and Urban Development
Agency Priority Goal: Strengthen Enivronmental Justice
Goal Overview: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) aims to make 25,000 at-risk homes healthier and lead-safe by September 30, 2025.
Why is this goal important? Young children are particularly vulnerable to lead, which can cause serious health issues, including learning difficulties, behavior issues, and in severe cases, seizures or death. Other home hazards, like mold, radon, and pests, can lead to chronic illnesses like asthma and cancer. Addressing these risks will help reduce lead exposure and create safer, healthier homes for families across the country.
Q4 Highlight: In FY 2024 Q4, HUD made significant progress toward its goal of strengthening environmental justice. HUD made more than 13,290 at-risk housing units healthy and lead-safe—exceeding their benchmark by more than 2,290 units (representing more than 20%). HUD is well positioned to meet its goals of treating 25,000 units in FY2024 and FY2025.
Closing the Digital Divide in Underserved Communities
Agency: Department of Commerce and the Department of Agriculture
Agency Priority Goal: Ensure all Americans have access to high-speed, affordable, and reliable broadband.
Goal Overview: By September 30, 2025, the Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Commerce (DOC) will fund projects to expand affordable and reliable access to broadband service, aiming to provide at least 6.25 million households and other locations access to high-quality internet service.
Why is this goal important? More than 30 million Americans live in areas where there is no broadband infrastructure to provide internet access with minimally acceptable speed. This is a particular problem in rural communities. In addition, the United States has relatively high broadband costs for consumers compared to other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Expanding access to affordable, high-quality internet will ensure Americans can do their jobs, participate in education, access health care, and stay connected. Investments will provide more equitable broadband access, especially in underserved and tribal communities.
Q4 Highlight: Michigan State University became the first Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP) grantee to complete their grant, connecting thousands of miles of internet infrastructure across 74 Michigan counties. This was made possible through funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA’s) $288 million broadband deployment program. BIP served as a precursor to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which President Biden signed into law on November 15, 2021.
Taking Giant Leaps Toward Space Exploration
Agency: National Aeronomics and Space Administration (NASA)
Agency Priority Goal: Artemis
Goal Overview: NASA is advancing America’s goal to land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon while pursuing a sustainable exploration program, supporting scientific discovery, and demonstrating capabilities to further lunar exploration. By September 30, 2025, NASA will launch Artemis II, the first crewed Artemis mission. In addition, NASA will complete an on-orbit propellant transfer test for Artemis III and deliver other key technologies to enable deep space exploration.
Why is this goal important? The 10-day flight on Artemis II will test NASA’s foundational manned deep space exploration capabilities.
Q4 Highlight: In preparation for Artemis II, the Moon to Mars Program Office reported several Q4 highlights, including the completion of an all propulsion system closeout testing, integrated radio frequency (RF) communications end-to-end testing, and service module flight closeout activities.
Learn more about the Artemis II mission.
Addressing Teacher Shortages in Schools
Agency: Department of Education
Agency Priority Goal: Support states and local agencies in their efforts to eliminate educator shortages at every school.
Goal Overview: The pandemic resulted in a 9% reduction in the number of individuals working in local public education. By September 30, 2025, the Department will support the creation of registered teacher apprenticeship programs in 35 states and double enrollment levels, relative to spring 2023, to more than 3,000 apprentices.
Why is this goal important? Teacher shortages and shortages of highly qualified educators disproportionately impact students with disabilities, English learners, students of color, and students in schools serving low-income communities. When more teachers take on supported and compensated leadership roles in their schools, while remaining in the classroom, it enhances student outcomes and improves teacher retention.
Q4 Highlight: The Department set an ambitious goal for supporting states and local education agencies in eliminating educator shortages at every school through more effective teacher recruitment, preparation, and retention efforts. As a result of these efforts and historic investments, there are now more people working in local public education than at any time in the last decade.
What’s Next
Today’s APG updates are the final round of progress updates to be released until new goals are established. For a comprehensive list of the Q4 FY 2024 APG updates, visit Performance.gov. Stay tuned as we continue to highlight key progress toward a modern, more effective government on our X and LinkedIn pages.
