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ETA News Release: [06/24/2003]
Contact Name: Lorette Post
Phone Number: (202) 693-3984

Labor Department Seeks Applications from Business Partnerships for Technical Skills Training Grants

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Labor Department’s Employment and Training Administration is soliciting applications from business-led partnerships for grants totaling $50 million. The grants are competitive, and will train workers for high-skill, high-technology occupations.

“These training grants are designed to help solve technical skills gap problems through a win-win solution for both workers and businesses,” said Emily Stover DeRocco, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. “Meeting employers’ critical needs for highly skilled employees by raising the skill level of employed and unemployed American workers in order to reduce employer reliance on foreign talent is the sensible solution for the long-term.”

Earlier competitive grants awarded by the Department of Labor have been used by businesses to increase the productivity of their current workers; retrain workers in new skills; improve employee morale and decrease turnover by advancing employee careers. The majority of training under these new grants will focus on advanced manufacturing, information technology, biotechnology, and other high-level technology skills.

Employers and trade associations must commit themselves to substantial involvement in planning, designing and delivering the training for American workers to fill existing or expected vacancies in order to qualify for the grants. Project results should include creating job opportunities for unemployed workers, increasing salaries of incumbent workers, and the attainment of industry-recognized certification or licensing for trainees.

Authorized by the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998, the $50 million will be awarded to business partnerships or business-related nonprofit organizations. The deadline for submitting grant applications for these funds is Sept. 22, 2003.

Under this same law, additional funds are also available to local Workforce Investment Boards established under the Workforce Investment Act. These dollars are awarded through a separate competition.

More information on the application process for both kinds of grants is available at www.doleta.gov.

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