2020 Grant Funding Opportunities

H-1B One Workforce Grant Program - FOA-ETA-20-13

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the availability of up to $150 million in grant funds authorized under section 414(c) of the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (ACWIA), as amended (codified at 29 USC 3224a) for the H-1B One Workforce grant program. We expect to fund approximately 15–30 grants, with individual grant amounts ranging from $500,000 to $10 million. The purpose of this grant program is to fill critical shortages in economic regions by encouraging states and economic regions to work with industry stakeholders to develop dynamic workforce strategies that train workers and jobseekers for middle- to high-skilled H-1B occupations in key industry sectors, such as Information Technology (IT), advanced manufacturing, and transportation that are being transformed by technological advancements and automation, as well as other industries of the future that include artificial intelligence (AI), quantum information sciences (QIS), 5G/advanced communications, and biotechnology.

These grants will build proof of concepts of innovative training models that can be replicated by the broader workforce system. Applicants must build support for a common vision for responding to the workforce challenges within their state and economic regions, ensuring that their projects complement and leverage, but do not duplicate existing programs. By forging public-private partnerships—H-1B One Workforce Partnerships—applicants will bring together industry and employers, education and training providers, the workforce system, state and local government, and other entities that will work collaboratively to align resources in response to employer demand and to offer novel education and job training solutions that generate positive outcomes and results.

H-1B Rural Healthcare Grant Program - FOA-ETA-20-12

The intent of this grant program is to alleviate healthcare workforce shortages by creating sustainable employment and training programs in healthcare occupations (including behavioral and mental healthcare) serving rural populations.

Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants - FOA-ETA-20-07

The Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants program (referred to as Strengthening Community Colleges or SCC) will build the capacity of community colleges to collaborate with employers and the public workforce development system to meet local and regional labor market demand for a skilled workforce. The purpose of this grant is (1) to increase the capacity and responsiveness of community colleges to address the skill development needs of employers and dislocated and unemployed workers, incumbent workers, and new entrants to the workforce; (2) to offer this spectrum of workers and other individuals accelerated career pathways that enable them to gain skills and transition from unemployment to (re)employment quickly; and (3) to address the new challenges associated with the COVID-19 health crisis that necessitate social distancing practices and expanding online and technology-enabled learning and migrating services to a virtual environment.

Building State Capacity to Expand Apprenticeship through Innovation: ETA-TEGL-15-19

The goal of these funds is to expand the national Registered Apprenticeship system by funding baseline activities that improve States' ability to serve, improve, and strategically scale the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) model described in 29 C.F.R. parts 29, Subpart A, and 29 C.F.R. 30; and to fund innovations aimed at using RAPs as a tool for developing the economy and building infrastructure.

In June 2017, the President issued an Executive Order (E.O.) 13801, Expanding Apprenticeship in America, with a focus on preparing workers to fill both existing and newly created jobs, and to prepare workers for the jobs of the future. Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and apprentices can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential. The E.O. directs the federal government to “promote apprenticeships and effective workforce development programs.” Expanding apprenticeships can help individuals gain the skills necessary to fill vacancies and help employers find skilled workers more easily and quickly.

Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) National Grants for Program Year (PY) 2020 – FOA-ETA-20-09

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $312 million in grant funds authorized by Title V of the Older Americans Act (OAA), as amended (42 USC §3056 et seq.) for the Senior Community Service Employment for Older Americans program commonly referred to as the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), for National Grants for Program Year (PY) 2020.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is being issued for eligible SCSEP PY 2020 National applicants to compete for SCSEP National funding. SCSEP is the only Federally-sponsored employment and training program targeted specifically to low-income older individuals who seek to enter or re-enter the workforce. Program participants receive paid work experience at local public or non-profit agencies and are paid the higher of the Federal, State, or local minimum wage; or the most nearly comparable wage for similar employment; for approximately 20 hours per week while in community service assignments and other job training (OAA Amendments § 502(b)(1)(J); 20 CFR 641.565(a)). The dual goals of the program are to promote useful opportunities through work experience training in community service activities and to move SCSEP participants into unsubsidized employment.

The National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) Career Services and Training Grants and Housing Grants – FOA-ETA-20-08

The purpose of this program is to counter chronic unemployment and underemployment experienced by migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents who depend primarily on jobs in agricultural labor performed across the country. NFJP assists eligible Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, including youth and adults, and their dependents, to receive career services, training services, housing assistance services, youth services, and other related assistance services, including emergency services, that help stabilize their current agriculture jobs as well as acquire new skills they need to start careers that provide higher wages and year-round employment. To support better economic outcomes for farmworkers, NFJP also works to meet a critical need for safe and sanitary permanent and temporary housing.

Youth Apprenticeship Readiness Grant Program - FOA-ETA-20-06

The purpose of this program is to support the development of new or the expansion of existing Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAP) for youth. This also includes quality pre-apprenticeship programs that lead to a RAP.

This grant program supports the President’s Executive Order and the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration’s goals to promote pre-apprenticeships, to develop a strong youth apprenticeship pipeline, and to expand access to youth apprenticeships. As a result, the grant will: 1) Increase awareness and adoption of the earn-and-learn apprenticeship model as a solution for experiential learning at the secondary educational level; 2) Increase parental, young adult, and employer awareness around the benefits of youth participation in RAPs, as well as their engagement in these models; 3) Develop and expand the number of RAP opportunities for youth, ensuring they meet RAP standards and pre-apprenticeship programs are of high quality and lead to RAP; 4) Increase academic and career-focused learning among youth, based on sound assessments, to increase employability in the labor force; 5) Promote increased alignment between state education and workforce systems through the development of policies that facilitate the transition from school to a RAP; and 6) Increase RAP opportunities for all youth, particularly underrepresented populations (including women, people of color, ex-offenders, persons with disabilities), youth with barriers to employment, and out-of-school youth.

Young Adult Reentry Partnership (YARP) - FOA-ETA-20-05

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $25,000,000 in grant funds authorized by the Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2019 (Pub. L. 115-245), for ex-offender activities under Section 169 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for Young Adult Reentry Partnership (YARP) projects, as part of the Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO) grant program.

The purpose of this program is to partner organizations that provide reentry services with community colleges to provide education and training services to improve the employment outcomes for young adults involved in the criminal justice system. These projects ensure that young adults transitioning from the criminal justice system are prepared to meet the needs of their local labor markets with the skills required by employers. Applicants must establish a partnership with the criminal justice system. In addition, applicants must also establish partnerships through their sub-grantees with community colleges that have designed their courses and career pathways/guided pathways program curricula to ensure relevance to the needs of local industries and jobs.

Young adults served under this grant are between the ages of 18 and 24 and currently or previously have been involved in the juvenile or adult criminal justice system or are high school dropouts, are low-income as defined under WIOA, and either reside in or are returning to the targeted geographic area.

Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) – FOA-ETA-20-04

This Announcement solicits applications for the WORC Initiative for grants serving the Appalachian and Delta regions. The purpose of this program is to demonstrate the alignment of regionally driven, comprehensive approaches to addressing economic distress and the necessary workforce development activities to ensure a workforce capable of succeeding in current and future job opportunities. Successful long-term economic growth strategies build upon bottom-up, community-led plans that promote economic resilience and maximize regional strengths. The WORC Initiative grants take a long-term view toward assisting eligible communities in diversifying their economies by investing in local strategies developed by regional partners. This long-term view also acknowledges the impact of the opioid crisis and the significant challenges it presents to a community’s workforce. To address these challenges, ETA encourages applicants to include within their applications strategies to address the employment and training needs of individuals affected by substance use disorder in their communities.

Pathway Home - FOA-ETA-20-02

The purpose of this pilot program is to provide eligible, incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities or local jails with workforce services prior to release and to continue services after release by transitioning the participants into reentry programs in the communities to which they will return. These grants are job-driven and build connections to local employers that will enable transitioning offenders to secure employment.

These projects ensure that transitioning offenders are prepared to meet the needs of their local labor markets with the skills valued by employers. Applicants must ensure that occupational training provided has no federal, state, or local regulations that restrict individuals with criminal records from obtaining licenses or other necessary credentials in that career. Employer connections will inform specific program curricula and ensure relevance to the needs of local businesses and jobs. Teaching transitioning offenders foundational skills, such as job readiness, employability, and job search strategies, in addition to providing apprenticeships and occupational training leading to industry-recognized credentials, can provide access to employment and reduce the likelihood of reoffending.

The Support to Communities: Fostering Opioid Recovery Through Workforce Development - FOA-ETA-20-01

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is announcing the availability of up to $20 million in grant funds for the Support to Communities: Fostering Opioid Recovery through Workforce Development grant program to fund approximately 8 to 10 partnership grants, authorized by the SUPPORT Act (Public Law 115-271), with awards ranging from $500,000 to $5 million.

These grants intend to allow State workforce agencies (through Participating Partnerships led by local workforce development boards), outlying areas, or Tribal organizations to creatively align and deliver career, training, and supportive services that will best serve workers in their local areas impacted by the crisis.

Grantees will engage community partners, such as local workforce development boards, employers or industry organizations, treatment and recovery centers, education providers, legal services and law enforcement organizations, and community-based and faith-based organizations, to address the economic effects of widespread substance misuse, opioid use, addiction, and overdose in significantly impacted service areas.

These grant programs will serve workers, including dislocated workers, individuals with barriers to employment, new entrants to the workforce, or incumbent workers (employed or underemployed, a) who are personally affected by substance use disorders, defined as individuals who themselves or whose friends or family members have been directly or indirectly impacted by substance use disorders, or b) who seek to transition to professions that support individuals with a substance use disorder and need new or upgraded skills to better serve struggling or at-risk individuals

Job Corps Scholars Program - FOA-ETA-20-03

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $23,738,000 in grant funds authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Section 156 (a) (29 U.S.C. 3193(a)) and Section 189(c) (29 U.S.C._3249(c)) for Job Corps Scholars Program Partnership.

Under this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DOL will competitively award grants to accredited, two-year, public community colleges; accredited, public two- and four-year historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs); and accredited tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs) as part of a "Job Corps Scholars Program" demonstration project. Grantees must enroll Job Corps eligible youth and provide those enrolled with intensive counseling services to support and facilitate each student's employment and career success.

DOL expects to serve 1,600 students through the award of approximately twenty (20) grants to accredited, two-year, public community colleges; accredited, public, two- and four-year HBCUs; and accredited, two- and four-year TCCUs. These projects will serve low income young adults between the ages of 16 to 24 who have at least one characteristic that is a barrier to education and employment listed in the FOA. Approximately 20 successful applicants will receive awards of $1,186,900.