7.  What are the Department of Labor competitive green jobs training grants
and what sectors are these grants designed to support?

In late June, the Department of Labor released five solicitation notices for $500 million in competitive green jobs grants.  The Department of Labor green jobs grants are direct federal grants from the Department of Labor and for the most part bypass most requirements of the Workforce Investment Act.  Though being listed on the Certified List of Eligible Training Providers is not explicitly stated as a requirement for any of the solicitations, the Working for America Institute and its Center for Green Jobs strongly recommends any interested parties also be listed on their Statewide List of Eligible Training Providers. 

The grants focus on seven specific “Green Jobs” sectors: 

• Energy-efficient building, construction, and retrofits industries
• Renewable electric power industries
• Energy-efficient and advanced drive-train-vehicle industries
• Bio-fuels industries
• Deconstruction and materials-use industries
• Energy efficiency assessment industries serving the residential, commercial, or industrial sectors
• Manufacturers that produce sustainable products using environmentally sustainable processes and materials.

Many of the funding streams provide funding opportunities for labor.  Specifically, labor is a mandated partner in three of the five solicitations; many of labor’s workforce development allies are eligible for the other two.  Below you will find a brief overview of each solicitation:

State Market Information Improvement SGA, $50 million in funding is made available to State Workforce Agencies and partners with individual state grants ranging from $750,000 to $1,250,000 and regional consortium grants ranging from $2 million to $4 million to collect, analyze, and disseminate labor market information in to ensure that the training efforts being funded through the public workforce investment system give workers with the training that will be in demand for green jobs.

Though State Workforce Agencies are the only eligible applicants, they may partner with interested workforce development organizations, including labor organizations and labor-management organizations. Unions have an opportunity to work with their State Workforce Agencies to collect better information about the location and quality of jobs.  Partnering with State Workforce Agencies also creates an opportunity to direct resources to union-related research organizations.

Energy Training Partnership Grants, $100 million in funding is available to provide training and placement services in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries for workers who have been impacted by national energy and environmental policy, individuals who are in need of updated training in relevant industries, and unemployed workers.  Individual grants range from $2 million to $5 million.

• National labor-management organizations with local networks are eligible to receive funding.  All training and placement activities must be conducted at the local level.  Successful applicants will be required to fund at least two (2) but no more than five (5) sub-grants or sub-contracts to state and local affiliates.
• State or local non-profit partnerships are also eligible.  Projects must be implemented by a diverse set of stakeholders, including labor organizations, public or private employers in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, and the workforce system.

Pathways Out of Poverty Grants, $150 million in funding is available to integrate training and supportive services to create pathways out of poverty and into self-sufficient employment in energy efficiency or the renewable energy industries.

• National partnerships are eligible for individual grants ranging from $3 million to $8 million.  State and local partnerships are eligible for grants in the range of $2 million to $4 million.
• These grants can be used by unions to expand the range of their training and support services in current training or apprenticeship programs that can demonstrate service to targeted populations.
• The Pathways Out of Poverty Grants can also help union-endorsed pre-apprenticeship programs improve and expand their services.

State Energy Sector Partnerships and Training Grants, $190 million is available to State Workforce Investment Boards that demonstrate successful partnerships between the public workforce development system and private and public entities to provide training for jobs in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries.  Individual grants range from $2 million to $4 million.

• Though State Workforce Investment Boards are the only eligible applicants, their applications must consist of partnerships with the State Workforce Agency, Local Workforce Investment Boards, One-Stop Centers, and at least one representative from: (1) state cabinet officials receiving Recovery Act funding, (2) energy efficiency and renewable energy businesses, and (3) labor organizations.
• These grants can be used to increase investments for union training programs to expand participation and services offered.

Green Capacity Building Grants, $5 million in funding is made available to support capacity building for specified existing DOL grantees to provide training for entry-level positions leading to career pathways in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.  Individual grants range from $50,000 to $100,000.

Eligible DOL grantees are as follows: Indian and Native American Program; National Farm worker Jobs Program; Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative; Senior Community Service Employment Program; Women in Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Occupations; Advancing Registered Apprenticeship into the 21st Century; Youth Build; and Young Offender Grants.

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