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News Release
US Labor Department awards more than $183 million for technical skills training to help American workers fill jobs in high-growth fields
CINCINNATI – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced during a conference call with reporters more than $183 million in grants to 43 public-private partnerships serving 28 states through the second round of funding under the H-1B Technical Skills Training Grant Competition. The grants will provide education, training and job placement assistance related to high-growth fields in which employers are currently using the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program to hire foreign workers.
"The federal grant awards announced today will provide U.S. workers with the training they need to succeed in the high tech, high-growth jobs of the future," said Secretary Solis. "Developing a strong and vibrant workforce that fits the needs of American businesses is critical to forming an America built to last."
Last October, the Labor Department awarded more than $159 million to 36 grantees in the first round of the competition. Between the two rounds of grants, more than $163 million has been designated to provide on-the-job training, allowing participants to learn new skills while earning a regular paycheck. More than $200 million has been designated for grantees that serve participants who have been identified as long-term unemployed. The grants also represent significant investments in fields such as information technology, advanced manufacturing and health care.
These grants are funded through fees paid by employers to bring foreign workers into the United States under the H-1B program. They are intended to raise the technical skill levels of American workers and, over time, help businesses reduce their need to use the H-1B program.
The original solicitation for grant applications announced funding of $240 million to be awarded through two rounds of funding. Because additional H-1B visa fees have been collected, about $100 million more than anticipated has been awarded.
Editor's note: A complete list of grantees, including their locations, award amounts and targeted industries, follows this release.
H-1B Technical Skills Training Grantees
Grantee | City, State | Amount | Targeted Industries and Occupations |
|---|---|---|---|
Arizona Diversity Business Development Center | Arizona | $4,963,159 | Health care |
Arkansas Workforce Investment Board | Arkansas | $4,952,848 | Health care |
Automation Alley | Michigan | $5,000,000 | Professional, scientific and technical services |
Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services Inc. | Minnesota | $1,639,688 | Advanced manufacturing |
Central Mississippi Planning & Development District Inc. | Mississippi | $5,000,000 | Information technology and engineering |
Central Piedmont Community College | North Carolina | $4,999,071 | Information technology and health IT |
City of Boston Economic Development and Industrial Corp. | Massachusetts | $4,999,555 | Health care and biotechnology |
District 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund | Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey | $3,073,122 | Health care |
Florida Gateway College | Florida | $3,903,957 | Health care |
Front Range Community College | Colorado | $3,980,813 | Health care |
Industrial Consultants LLC | California, Washington, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland | $5,000,000 | Ammonia refrigeration industry |
Los Angeles Southwest College | California | $5,000,000 | Engineering and engineering technology |
Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership Inc. | Massachusetts | $3,992,908 | High-tech and advanced manufacturing |
Midlands Technical College | South Carolina | $5,000,000 | Insurance and heath information technology |
New Jersey Institute of Technology | New Jersey | $5,000,000 | Information technology and STEM industries |
Northeast Iowa Community College | Iowa | $4,870,648 | Advanced manufacturing, health care, professional and business services |
Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board Inc. | Connecticut | $5,000,000 | Information technology and advanced manufacturing |
Northwest State Community College | Ohio | $5,000,000 | Information technology |
Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program Inc. | Wisconsin | $4,758,656 | Health care |
Ohio University | Ohio | $4,989,080 | Health care |
Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership | Oregon, Washington | $5,000,000 | Information technology and manufacturing |
Pacific Systems Inc. | Georgia | $4,966,308 | Information technology and high technology |
Pasco-Hernando Workforce Board Inc. | Florida | $1,836,082 | Health care |
Regional Center for Workforce Excellence | Pennsylvania | $1,199,050 | Information technology and communication |
River Valley Community College | New Hampshire | $4,998,775 | Advanced manufacturing |
San Jacinto Community College District | Texas | $4,996,100 | Information technology |
Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board | Virginia | $5,000,000 | Health care and advanced manufacturing |
Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance Inc. | Florida | $3,857,898 | Information technology and telecommunications |
TechAmerica Foundation | Maryland, Virginia | $4,993,403 | Information technology |
The AFL-CIO Working for America Institute Inc. | Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan | $3,381,000 | Advanced manufacturing |
The Junior College District of Metropolitan Kansas City, Mo. | Missouri | $5,000,000 | Information technology and engineering |
The Research Foundation of SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry | New York | $1,387,104 | Advanced manufacturing |
The University of West Florida | Florida | $3,945,528 | Health information technology |
The Workforce Alliance | Connecticut | $4,970,000 | Information technology, engineering, advanced manufacturing |
University of Central Florida | Florida | $5,000,000 | Engineering and information technology |
University of Texas, El Paso, School of Nursing | Texas | $3,991,880 | Health care |
West Los Angeles College | California | $4,999,714 | Advanced manufacturing, engineering, information technology |
WestEd | California | $5,000,000 | Information |
Worker Education and Resource Center Inc. | California | $1,035,553 | Health care |
Workforce Development Board of Southeast Los Angeles County | California | $2,174,196 | Health care |
Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas | Texas | $4,991,839 | Information technology; professional, scientific and technical services |
Workforce Systems Inc. | Oregon, Washington | $4,567,095 | High-tech and advanced manufacturing |
Wyoming Department of Workforce Services | Wyoming | $4,924,211 | Health care |