$50.7M awarded to expand and enhance innovative workforce development strategies through the Workforce Innovation Fund

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $50,744,449 in Workforce Innovation Fund grants to improve federal job training programs. The grants will be used to deliver services more efficiently, facilitate cooperation across federal and state workforce programs and funding streams, and expand partnerships with specific employers or industry sectors to develop programs that reflect current and future skill needs.

"More than ever, we're pursuing job-driven training by aligning our programs with the needs of employers and making sure that everything we're doing is preparing ready-to-work Americans with ready-to-be-filled jobs," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "The Workforce Innovation Fund will improve our job training programs by encouraging innovation, identifying what works, and sharing the results and best practices with others."

Eleven grants, ranging from $2.9 million to nearly $12 million were awarded today to a combination of state workforce agencies and local workforce investment boards in the second round of competition under the Workforce Innovation Fund. Approximately $171 million in grants were awarded in the first round, which included $147 million for 26 grants in July 2012 and $24 million for two Pay for Success grants in October 2013.

The goals of the Workforce Innovation Fund are closely aligned with the Obama administration's job-driven training principles. Grantees will work with local and regional employers, industry groups and their state commerce and development agencies to strengthen public-private partnerships. In addition, all grants require an evaluation component that will help significantly increase the body of knowledge about the most effective strategies in workforce development.

To read about how the Workforce Innovation Fund and other federally-funded job training programs are making a difference in your community and to find resources that can help connect jobseekers and employers, visit https://www.dol.gov/findyourpath/. Contribute to the conversation on Twitter using #FindYourPath.

Editor's Note: A chart listing the states receiving awards and grant amounts follows this release.

2014 Workforce Innovation Fund Awards