The U.S. Labor Department invites prospective H-1B Technical Skills Training Grants applicants to attend a series of conferences.

Three prospective applicant conferences will be held in March to:

• Instruct prospective applicants on the goals and principles of the H-1B Technical Skills Training Grant Program,
• Provide an overview of DOL policies and emphases,
• Explain the required elements of a grant package and the grants review process, and
• Present the experiences of successful H-1B grantees.

On January 6, 2003, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor announced the availability of approximately $200 million for H-1B Technical Skills Training Grants under a new solicitation for grant applications published in the Federal Register. The purpose of these conferences is to prepare prospective applicants to respond to the January 6 announcement.

Eligible applicants for these grants will be local Workforce Investment Boards representing a local or regional public-private partnership that is comprised of at least one Local Board; one business or business related non-profit organization such as a trade association; and one community based organization, higher education institution or labor union that will carry out such programs or projects through One-Stop delivery systems, or regional consortia of Local Boards.

The conferences are scheduled as follows:

• Washington-Metropolitan (Hilton Crystal City at National Airport)- March 11, 2003.
• Atlanta (Peach Tree Plaza Hotel) - March 20, 2003.
• Denver (Hyatt Regency) - March 25, 2003.