Who is eligible to receive training under Community-Based Job Training Grants?
The scope of potential trainees is very broad. WIA Section 171(d) authorizes demonstration programs to serve dislocated workers, incumbent workers, and new entrants to the workforce. This authorization supports a broad range of training for a variety of populations, including: incumbent workers who need new skills for jobs in demand at higher levels of the career ladder or because the skill levels of their current jobs have changes; untapped labor pools such as immigrant workers, individuals with limited English proficiency, individuals with disabilities, veterans, older workers, youth, etc; or entry-level workers who need basic skills training and/or specific occupational skills training.
The SGA states that Community-Based Job Training Grants supports a broad range of training for a variety of populations, including incumbent workers, untapped labor pools such as immigrant workers, individuals with disabilities, veterans, older workers, youth, or entry level workers. Do I have to train all these populations in my proposed activities?
No. Applicants may propose to train one or more of these populations. The identification of targeted and qualified trainees should be part of the larger project planning process undertaken by the required partnership and should relate to the workforce issue that is being addressed by the training.
Are youth who are part of the criminal justice system, i.e. on probation, an appropriate "untapped labor pool?”
Yes. Under its new youth vision, ETA targets investments that connect out-of-school and at-risk youth with quality secondary and post-secondary educational opportunities and high-growth employment opportunities. Incorporating at-risk youth into Community-Based Job Training Grants would align with this vision.
