UPDATE ON PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY GRANT: The U.S. Department of Labor has amended the grant solicitation and increased the cap on supportive services from 5 to 10 percent. The application deadline is September 29. For additional information, contact Ragini Kapadia at rkapadia@workingforamerica.org
SEE OUR LATEST GUIDE ON ENERGY TRAINING PARTNERSHIP GRANTS: Get detailed assistance on how to apply for these grants. Energy Training Partnership SGA Guide
UPDATE ON ENERGY TRAINING PARNTERSHIP GRANTS: On July 23, in the Federal Register, The Department of Labor issued a clarification regarding two its green jobs training grants and added 31 counties to its list of 281 counties adversely impacted by the crisis in the automobile industry. The total number of counties on the DOL auto-restructuring list is now 312 in 31 states. Grants affected are the Energy Training Partnership Grants (SGA/DFA PY 08-18) and the State Energy Sector Partnership (SESP) and Training Grants (SGA/DFA PY-08-20). Each solicitation sets aside $25 million for communities undergoing auto industry related restructurings. For details, go to autocrisis
LET'S STAY IN TOUCH: The Working for America Institute and its Center for Green Jobs is conducting a series of meetings, conference calls and webinars on green jobs training grants. To participate in these discussions, email your name, organization and contact information to Katrina Dizon at kdizon@workingforamerica.org.
Background on Green Jobs Training Grants:
In late June, the Department of Labor released five solicitation notices for $500 million in competitive green jobs grants. The 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.
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Title: Energy Training Partnership Grants (for SGA/DFA PY-08-18)
Amount: $100 million
Application Deadline: September 4, 2009
Link to Full Announcement: http://www.doleta.gov/grants/pdf/SGA-DFA-PY-08-18.pdf
Summary: These funds support training for workers entering the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries as well as green occupations within other industries. The
Each solicitation sets aside $25 million for communities undergoing auto industry related restructurings. The solicitation sets aside $25 million for communities undergoing auto industry related restructurings.
Background: $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. The DOL has listed 312 counties in 31 states adversely affected by the crisis in the automobile industry. For a list of these counties, go to: autocrisis
- 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.
Contact: Janice Sheelor
Grants Management Specialist, Division of Federal Assistance
Phone: (202)-693-3538
Sheelor.Janice@dol.gov
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Title: Pathways Out of Poverty Grants (for SGA/DFA PY-08-19)
Amount: $150 million
Application Deadline: September 29, 2009
Link to Full Announcement: http://www.doleta.gov/grants/pdf/SGA-DFA-PY-08-19.pdf
Summary: These funds are intended to integrate training and supportive services into cohesive programs that will create green jobs for targeted populations including unemployed and disadvantaged individuals in areas of high poverty.
Background: $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.
Contact: Melissa Abdullah
Grants Management Specialist, Division of Federal Assistance
Phone: (202) 693-3346
Abdullah.Melissa@dol.gov
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Title: State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grants (SGA/DFA PY-08-20)
Amount: $190 million
Application Deadline: October 20, 2009
Link to Full Announcement: http://www.doleta.gov/grants/pdf/SGA-DFA-PY-08-20.pdf
Summary: A sector strategy is a workforce development approach that targets the needs of a specific industry sector. Grants funds awarded under this grant will be used to provide training, job placement, and related activities that reflect a comprehensive statewide energy sector strategy. The solicitation sets aside $25 million for communities undergoing auto industry related restructurings. For more, go to: autocrisis
Background: $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.
Contact: Jeanette Flowers
Grant Management Specialist, Division of Federal Assistance
Phone: (202) 693-3322
Flowers.Jeanette@dol.gov
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Title: State Market Information Improvement (SGA/DFA PY08-17)
Amount: $50 million
Application Deadline: August 14, 2009
Link to Full Announcement: http://www.doleta.gov/grants/pdf/SGA-DFA-PY-08-17.pdf
Summary: The purpose of these grants is to collect, analyze, and disseminate labor market information.
Background: $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.
Contact: Willie Harris
Grants Management Specialist
Phone 202-693-3344
Harris.Willie@dol.gov
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Title: Green Capacity Building Grants (SGA/DFA PY-08-21)
Amount: $5 million
Application Deadline: August 5, 2009
Link to Full Announcement: http://www.doleta.gov/grants/pdf/SGA-DFA-PY-08-21.pdf
Summary: This grant is meant to fund projects that build the capacity of DOL-funded training programs to ensure that targeted groups are prepared to meet the needs of our country’s expanding green industries.
Background: $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.
Contact: Denise Roach
Grants Management Specialist
Phone 202-693-3820
Roach.Denise@dol.gov |
