Grants for 2009

The DOL, ETA, Office of Workforce Investment, Division of Adult Services, announces a grant competition for operating the NFJP, under section 167 of the WIA, 29 U.S.C. 2912 in certain specified service delivery areas. The WIA generally requires the DOL to conduct a grants competition every two years to select entities to operate the NFJP. DOL is exercising its option under WIA sec. 167 (c)(4)(B) to waive competition for the biannual grant competition scheduled for PY 2009 for those grantees determined to have performed successfully as described in TEGL 25-08.

As explained in TEGL 25-08, the grantees operating in the following service delivery areas were determined to be ineligible for waiver: Arkansas, Hawaii, Indiana, and Nebraska. The current grantee in Maine will cease business operations effective July 1, 2009, necessitating competition in that service delivery area. Accordingly, this notice solicits proposals for grant applications from eligible organizations to serve these areas during PY 2009 and 2010 (October 1, 2009 through June 30, 2011). Due to the late publication date of this announcement, current NFJP grantees have been given an extension to operate the NFJP for the first quarter of PY 2009 (July 1, 2009 through September 30, 2009). The extension is a necessity in order to avoid a disruption in service and harm to the participants caused by the late onset of the competition, which is no fault of the current grantees. The current grant will be funded on a pro-rated basis until September 30, 2009. The ETA will determine the exact percentage of pro-rated funds. Current grantees in the service delivery areas defined above are invited to submit applications to compete for PY 2009 NFJP funds. All interested applicants should read this notice in its entirety.

The Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department) announces the availability of approximately $220 million in grant funds authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery Act) for projects that provide training and placement services to help workers pursue careers within the industries described in the Background section, Part B of this SGA. The purpose of the high growth and emerging industries grants funded through this SGA is to teach workers the necessary skills for, and help them pursue careers in, health care and other high growth and emerging industry sectors. Eligible applicants include public entities and private nonprofit organizations. Additional specific eligibility guidance is included in Section III.A, "Eligible Applicants and Required Partnerships." ETA intends to fund 45-65 grants ranging from approximately $2 to $5 million. Approximately $25 million of the total funds available through this Solicitation will be reserved for projects serving communities impacted by automotive-related restructuring, though the Department reserves the right to change this amount depending on the quantity and quality of applications submitted under this SGA. See full announcement for a list of communities impacted by automotive-related restructuring.

The Department of Labor (DOL) announces the availability of approximately $5 million in grant funds for projects that build the capacity of DOL-funded training programs to ensure that targeted groups are prepared to meet the needs of our country's expanding green industries. Only active DOL-funded grantees (eligible grantees specified in the SGA) are eligible to apply. Specifically, this SGA supports capacity building for organizations to provide training for entry-level positions leading to career pathways and/or additional training in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. The Department expects to award between 50 and 100 grants under this competition, providing awards ranging from $50,000 to $100,000.

The Department of Labor (DOL) announces the availability of approximately $190 million in grant funds to State Workforce Investment Boards of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. In order to highlight the important role States play in building a national green economy, the Department is investing in workforce sector strategies that target energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. DOL encourages a strategic planning process that aligns the Governor’s overall workforce vision, State energy policies, and local and regional training activities that lead to employment in targeted industry sectors. This strategic planning process is an opportunity to develop a statewide energy sector strategy through a comprehensive partnership and development of a Sector Plan. If an energy sector strategy is currently in place, that strategy should be reviewed and evaluated to address the requirements of this funding opportunity. As a result of this Solicitation for Grant Application (SGA), the Department is fostering the development of a national workforce that is ready to meet the demands of the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.

A portion of the funds under this SGA will be reserved for communities or regions undergoing auto industry related restructurings. The eligible applicants for this SGA are State Workforce Investment Boards in partnership with their State Workforce Agency, local Workforce Investment Boards or regional consortia of Boards, and One Stop Career Center delivery systems. ETA intends to fund grants ranging from approximately $2 to $6 million.

The Department of Labor (DOL) announces the availability of approximately $150 million in grant funds for projects that provide training and placement services to provide pathways out of poverty and into employment within the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. Grantees selected from two separate types of applicants will be funded through this solicitation: (1) national nonprofit entities with networks of local affiliates, coalition members, or other established partners; and (2) local entities. ETA intends to fund grants ranging from approximately $3 to $8 million for national grantees, and grants ranging from approximately $2 to $4 million for local grantees.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery Act), DOL announces the availability of approximately $100 million in grant funds to 20-30 projects ranging from approximately $2 to $5 million each. Projects will provide training and placement services in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries for workers impacted by national energy and environmental policy, individuals in need of updated training related to the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, and unemployed workers. Proposed projects must be developed and implemented through strategic partnerships.

Energy Training Partnership funds are intended to provide training for workers that prepares them to enter the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, as well as green occupations within other industries, as described in the Supplementary Information: Part B of this SGA. Individuals eligible for training include workers impacted by national energy and environmental policy, individuals in need of updated training related to the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, and unemployed workers. A portion of the funds under this SGA will be reserved (as described in Section II, Award Information) for projects serving communities impacted by automotive-related restructuring.

The Department of Labor (DOL) announces the availability of approximately $50 million in grant funds for the Workforce Agencies of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories, or a consortium of such agencies, to collect, analyze, and disseminate labor market information, and to enhance the labor exchange infrastructure for careers within the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. The eligible applicant for this grant solicitation is the State Workforce Agency, as States are expected to use workforce and labor market information and data as the foundation on which to build and implement effective workforce development strategies. This SGA encourages collaborative approaches, whereby multiple States apply as a consortium to conduct research that may potentially have a multi-State or national impact. ETA intends to fund individual State grants ranging from approximately $750,000 to $1,250,000. Individual grant awards to consortium applicants will range from $2 to $4 million, contingent upon an adequate justification of proposed project needs and the availability of resources.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announces the availability of $34 million for grants to serve high schools that have been designated as persistently dangerous by State Educational Agencies for the 2008-2009 school year under section 9532 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The goal of these grants is to reduce violence within these schools through a combination of mentoring, education, employment, case management, and violence prevention strategies. These grants will be awarded to fund projects in schools not currently receiving a DOL grant for these purposes through a competitive process open both to school districts which include persistently dangerous high schools and to community-based organizations (CBOs) in partnership with these school districts. High schools which have been designated as persistently dangerous this school year and which are not currently receiving a Department of Labor (Department or DOL) grant under this initiative are located in the school districts of Baltimore City, Plainfield (New Jersey), New York City, Schenectady (New York), Salem-Keiser (Oregon), Philadelphia, and Puerto Rico. These schools are listed in Section VIIIA below. School districts and CBOs must submit a separate application for each high school that they propose serving, but may submit as many applications as they have eligible schools. Applications submitted by school districts must include plans to have one or more CBOs as sub-grantees/contractors to operate at a minimum the mentoring component. These proposed CBO sub-grantees/contractors do not need to be listed in the application, as the Department strongly encourages the use of competition in selecting sub-grantees and contractors either before or after grant award. Applications submitted by CBOs must have a school district identified as a partner, with a signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the school district included in the application. To be eligible to apply for these grants as a CBO, organizations must be not-for-profit entities and can operate either nationally or locally.

Please note: The Employment and Training Administration will not be holding a Virtual Prospective Applicant Conference for SGA/DFA PY 08-14 Mentoring, Educational, and Employment Strategies to Improve Academic, Social, and Career Pathways Outcomes . Rather, as indicated in the grant announcement, questions can be faxed to Serena Boyd at 202-693-2705; and we will answer these questions promptly.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), announces the availability of approximately $6.5 million for 10-20 grants to promote the adoption of the 21st century Registered Apprenticeship framework established by the Final Rule published on October 29, 2008 (73 FR 64402), promulgating revised 20 CFR Part 29, Labor Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs. The grants will fund the development and/or adaptation of national guideline standards that incorporate competency-based progression; hybrid-style progression; and/or interim credentials. Funds are also available to train staff, apprenticeship instructors and members on the 21st century Registered Apprenticeship framework and on the development of standards that utilize the elements of the 21st century Registered Apprenticeship framework as established by the Final Rule. National industry and employer associations, labor-management organizations and other organizations that demonstrate the capacity to advance registered apprenticeship through the development of new or modified apprenticeship standards using the elements of the 21st century Registered Apprenticeship framework are eligible to apply for grant funds.