US Department of Labor announces $1.9 million in grants to support women in nontraditional occupations

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the award of more than $1.9 million in grants to recruit, train and retain women in high-skill occupations, such as advanced manufacturing, transportation, energy, construction and information technology.

“Expanding opportunity for women in America means breaking down barriers and changing perceptions about fields where women have been underrepresented for far too long,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “These grants will help women access these quality, middle-class jobs and ensure that as we grow apprenticeships in America, this earn-while-you-learn model is available to more women.”

The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grants were awarded to three community-based organizations to create regional, multi-state Technical Assistance Resource Centers. The centers will support efforts to increase the number of women entering nontraditional occupations and registered apprenticeships. Grant activities include:

• Development of connections with pre-apprenticeship programs to prepare women for registered apprenticeship programs.
• Orientations for employers on creating a successful environment for women in apprenticeship.
• Identifying resources for supportive services including child care, transportation, support groups and other efforts to remove barriers to women succeeding in these industries.

The announcement comes as the White House Council on Women and Girls convenes for the first “United States of Women” Summit today. The summit serves as a large-scale effort to rally together advocates of gender equality to highlight the progress achieved, identify remaining challenges and develop ways to address those challenges. Experts, advocates, and grassroots and business leaders in both domestic and international arenas gather to highlight key issues affecting women and girls. 

The grants are jointly administered by the department’s Women’s Bureau and its Employment and Training Administration’s Office of Apprenticeship.  For information about the department’s range of employment and training programs, visit http://www.doleta.gov.

Editor's note:  A list of grantees, their locations and award amounts follows this news release.

Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Grants