To announce the release and the availability of ETA Occasional Paper 2006-03: Evaluating Grants to Build Collaborations Between the Workforce Investment System and Faith- and Community-Based Organizations: Early Findings

To announce the results of the Program Year (PY) 2006 competition of the national Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) grants.

To inform states and local areas about a newly formed partnership to promote careers in Health Care to Hispanics.

To assure that all SCSEP national and state grantees focus efforts on helping minorities gain and continue access to the program, especially through the transition period ending October 1, 2006.

To announce the designation of September 24-30, 2006, as National Employ Older Workers Week and to encourage State Workforce Agencies, State and Local Workforce Investment Boards and One-Stop Career Centers to provide leadership in activities to promote National Employ Older Workers Week.

To announce extension of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of Forms ETA 843 and ETA 841 contained in ET Handbook No. 384, Unemployment Compensation for Ex-servicemembers (UCX) Handbook, Chapter VI, pages 8-21.

To announce details of two RJM training sessions for state staff.

To notify the States of a one year suspension of the Dislocated Worker earnings measure as a determining factor for PY 2005 incentive awards and sanctions. This notice merely suspends the use of this measure in determining incentive awards for PY 2005; it does not change the policy that will be used to determine incentives and sanctions in future Program Years.

To ensure that 21st century apprenticeship is viewed as a critical post- secondary education and training option available through the One-Stop delivery system for building a skilled and competitive workforce to meet employer demand.

To announce three ETA-sponsored national training sessions on federal financial and administrative requirements to be held in 2007.

The primary goal of these sessions is to provide in-depth guidance and technical support on ETA financial and administrative requirements. Topics for the forums include financial reporting, monitoring, procurement, indirect costs, salary and bonus limitations, audit requirements, and a host of other financial and administrative management topics. Each forum will provide educational opportunities for state, local and discretionary grantees and enhance their understanding of the requirements of operating Federal grants. Fiscal and administrative staff working in ETA’s formula and discretionary grant programs should attend. Interested program staff are also invited to attend.