US Department of Labor announces competition for $1.2 million in Recovery Act funds to assist workers impacted by foreign trade

Grants will fund outreach and technical assistance to workers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced approximately $1.2 million in grant funds authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 from the dislocated workers assistance national reserve. A solicitation for grants announcement appears in today's Federal Register. One to four projects will be funded to provide technical assistance and outreach to dislocated workers impacted by foreign trade.

"It is imperative that workers who are adversely impacted by trade, receive the sort of timely information and assistance that will help them secure permanent jobs with family-supporting wages," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This funding will allow organizations to improve the quality of services delivered to trade-impacted workers, and help bring them back into the workforce."

Funding awarded through this competition will support grantees that provide direct training or technical assistance to ensure that Trade Adjustment Assistance petitions are complete and accurate. It also will allow organizations to improve the delivery of Workforce Investment Act Rapid Response services to trade-affected workers. Additionally, organizations receiving funding will help identify and address specific challenges to TAA-certified workers in targeted industries, and establish partnerships with states to develop services and/or service delivery strategies, including the use of National Emergency Grants, for more effective employment and case management in states with large numbers of TAA certifications.

Eligibility for funding awarded through this solicitation is restricted to the following entities: national employer associations; national labor union organizations; other labor union affiliates; nonprofit organizations; and national associations with connections to the TAA program or trade-affected workers.

Visit http://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm to review the grant solicitation, including the closing date. Visit http://www.doleta.gov to learn more about the range of Department of Labor employment and training programs and initiatives.