The Department of Labor (DOL) invites the workforce development system to participate in the Career Videos for America’s Job Seekers Challenge (hereafter called the Challenge). This effort is a collaboration among the White House, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), IdeaScale.com, online video makers, workforce development professionals, and job seekers.

This guidance letter updates the procedures states should follow to apply for WIA section 503 Incentive Grants.

To initiate the process, provide supplemental instructions, and define additional requirements for the FY 2011 SQSP.

To provide guidance and direction regarding the availability of Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) National Emergency Grant (NEG) resources for health insurance coverage assistance and support services for eligible Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) recipients and other eligible individuals, as authorized under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, and to inform potential applicants and current grantees of changes made to the program by the TAA Health Coverage Improvement Act of 2009.

To announce the release and availability of Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws 2010.

The purpose of this guidance is to provide those SCSEP grantees that were awarded FY 2010 Additional Funds with further instructions and procedures for the funds that became available on January 29, 2010. The period of performance is from January 29, 2010 through June 30, 2011, even though the statute makes funding available through December 31, 2011.

To inform states of the guidelines for negotiating Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title 1B performance and customer satisfaction goals and performance levels for the Wagner-Peyser Act funded activities for Program Year (PY) 2010. These performance goals, once they are agreed upon between the state and the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), will be incorporated into the State’s Strategic Plan for the WIA and Wagner-Peyser Act.

To provide information on the "high emphasis" that selected states will receive through the State Quality Service Plan (SQSP) process to improve first payment time lapse and first level appeals promptness, and to outline the process that will be followed beginning with the 2011 SQSP.

To provide instructions for the preparation and submission of Program Year (PY) 2010 NFJP grant plans under Section 167 of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

To announce the release and availability of ETA Occasional Paper: Pre-Design Study for the Evaluation of Recovery Act Green Jobs, Health care, and Other High Growth Competitive Grants