US Department of Labor announces availability of $1.8 million in grants to support women in nontraditional occupations

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $1.8 million for up to six grants through the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations program.

"These grants offer women the opportunity to gain skills in industries that will continue to grow and offer long-term career opportunities," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Partnerships that include Registered Apprenticeship programs, local workforce investment areas and community-based organizations create a powerful support system to recruit and train women for careers in nontraditional occupations."

The grants will support innovative projects that improve the recruitment, hiring, training, employment and retention of women in apprenticeships within industries such as advanced manufacturing, transportation and construction. Within these industries, the grants will fund activities focused on three occupational areas: existing occupations expected to experience primarily an increase in employment demand, existing occupations with significant change to the work and worker requirements, and new and emerging green occupations.

Eligible applicants include consortia that comprise a community-based organization, a local workforce investment area and a Registered Apprenticeship program sponsor. Applicants must place at least 50 participants annually – and at least 100 over the life of the grant – into a Registered Apprenticeship program. The grants are jointly administered by the Labor Department's Women's Bureau and its Employment and Training Administration's Office of Apprenticeship.

The solicitation for grant applications will be published in the April 10 issue of the Federal Register and is available at http://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm. For information on the Department of Labor's range of employment and training programs, visit http://www.doleta.gov.