The Office of Grants Management (OGM) provides accurate, timely, centralized grants management expertise to all Employment and Training Administration (ETA) offices and stakeholders throughout the grants life cycle.

Through delegated Grant Officer authorities, OGM delivers centralized grants administration and policy expertise to support pre-award, award, period of performance, audit resolution and closeout of federal assistance awards made by ETA.

Our office works collaboratively with program offices to develop grant solicitations, oversee application analysis and review and is the deciding official for federal assistance awards. Our office develops and implements procedures to resolve audits and investigations of U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) grantees, and acts on grantee requests for waivers of liability. Our office develops and disseminates financial and grants management policies and procedures for grantees to ensure compliance with these requirements. We also provide training and technical assistance to offices, grantees and other organizations. Lastly, our office represents DOL at Council on Federal Assistance Reform meetings and other government-wide federal assistance forums.

Laura P. Watson
Administrator

Laura P. Watson portrait

Ms. Laura Patton Watson is a licensed CPA who, prior to being named Administrator of the Office of Grants Management, had extensive experience in all phases the federal assistance arena with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), from indirect costs rates through audit resolutions and anything in between.

Laura represented the DOL on the Council of Federal Assistance Reform (COFAR) under the guidance of the Office of Management & Budget, which ultimately produced the modernized and streamlined regulations for federal assistance-known now as the Uniform Guidance.

She is a graduate of North Carolina State University, the Federal Executive Institute and the John F. Kennedy School of Government.