HUD Publishes NOFA on Rural Housing and Economic Development; Includes Entrepreneurship and Capacity-Building for Federally Recognized Indian Tribes
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has published the Notice of Funding Availability NOFA) for FY 2009 Rural Housing and Economic Development Program at www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/economicdevelopment/programs/rhed/funding09/index.cfm.

The NOFA will not be published in the FEDERAL REGISTER.

There is a total of $26 million dollars available through this NOFA. There are three separate competitions within this NOFA.

Category 1
Support for Innovative Housing and Economic Development Activities

Category 2
Economic Development and Entrepreneurship for Federally Recognized Indian Tribes

Category 3
Technical Assistance to Increase Capacity through Training and Outreach Activities for Federally Recognized Indian Tribes

The application deadline date is May 29, 2009.

Department of Education Announces Funding Opportunity under the Predominantly Black Institutions Program
The purpose of the Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) Program is to strengthen PBIs to carry out programs in the following areas: Science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM); health education; internationalization or globalization; teacher preparation; or improving educational outcomes of African-American males.

The Department of Education has announced the availability of $6,000,000 for an estimated 10 awards to eligible institutions.

Applications are due by May 29, 2009.

The April 29, 2009 FEDERAL REGISTER provides full background, describes the eligible institutions, and summarizes the application requirements.

USDA Announces Funding Opportunity under the Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program; Job Creation and Preservation among the Performance Measures
The primary objective of the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program is to improve the economic condition of rural areas through cooperative development. Grant funds are provided for the establishment and operation of Centers that have the expertise or who can contract out for the expertise to assist individuals or entities in the startup, expansion or operational improvement of rural businesses, especially cooperative or mutually-owned businesses.

USDA today has annnounced the availability of $4,424,000 for grant awards. USDA expects to award an approximate 22 grants.

Eligible applicants are nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher education.

Applications are due by June 29, 2009.

Applicants are asked to provide estimates on a number of performance measures, including "total number of jobs created as a result of assistance," and "total number of jobs saved as a result of assistance."

The April 29, 2009 FEDERAL REGISTER provides full background and application requirements.

EDA's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Planning Process: OMB Seeks Comments on Information Collection
In order to receive investment assistance under the Economic Development Administration's Public Works, Economic Adjustment, and most economic development Planning Programs, applicants must undertake a planning process that results in a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). A CEDS also is a prerequisite for a region's designation by EDA as an Economic Development District. The CEDS planning process and resulting CEDS is designed to guide the economic growth of an area and provides a mechanism for coordinating the efforts of individuals, organizations, local governments, and private industry concerned with economic development.

The Office of Management and Budget is currently seeking public comment on the proposed extension of the CEDS information collection. Comments should be submitted to OMB by May 28, 2009.

The April 28, 2009 FEDERAL REGISTER provides relevant background, summarizes the burden hour estimates, and describes the process for obtaining a copy of the information collection and the instructions for the the submission of comments.

Department of Justice Announces Funding Opportunity under Second Chance Act for Non-Profits
The Second Chance Act of 2007 provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from prison and jail and returning to communities. There are currently over 2.3 million individuals serving time in federal and state prisons, and millions of people cycling through local jails every year. Ninety-five percent of all prisoners incarcerated today will eventually be released and will return to communities. The Second Chance Act will help ensure the transition individuals make from prison or jail to the community is safe and successful. Section 211 of the Act authorizes grants to nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Indian tribes that may be used for mentoring projects to promote the safe and successful reintegration into the community of individuals who have been incarcerated.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs' Bureau of Justice Assistance has announced that it is seeking applications for funding of mentoring grants to nonprofit organizations under the Second Chance Act. This program furthers the Department's commitment to providing services and programs to facilitate inmates' successful reintegration into society.

All applications are due by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 21, 2009.

Click here for full announcement and application requirements.

Back To Top

SSTI Invites Applications for 2009 Excellence in Technology-Based Economic Development Awards; Categories Include "Enhancing the Science & Technology Workforce"
The State Science & Technology Institute (SSTI) is a national nonprofit organization that leads, supports and strengthens efforts to improve state and regional economies through science, technology and innovation.

Since its inception in 1996, SSTI has developed a nationwide network of practitioners and policymakers dedicated to improving the economy through science and technology. SSTI uses this access to assist states and communities as they build tech-based economies, conduct research on best practices and trends in tech-based economic development, and encourage cooperation among and between state and federal programs.

SSTI has recently announced its invitation for applications for the 2009 Excellence in Technology-Based Economic Development Awards in the following categories:

• Expanding the Research Infrastructure
• Commercializing Research
• Building Entrepreneurial Capacity
• Increasing Access to Capital
• Enhancing the Science & Technology Workforce
• Improving Competitiveness of Existing Industries

Any TBED program or practitioner is eligible to apply. This includes, but is not limited to, nonprofit organizations, local and state governments, colleges and universities, federal agencies and labs, industry associations, economic development councils, and other organizations that promote innovation and technology-based economic development.

Applications are due by June 16.

Full background / brochure / application form / selection criteria

VA Launches "Returning Veterans" Website
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched its new "Returning Veterans" website -- www. oefoif.va.gov -- to welcome home Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with a social, Veteran-centric Web site focusing on their needs and questions.

"VA is entering the world of Web 2.0, because that's where this generation of Veterans is already communicating," said Dr. Gerald M. Cross, VA's Principal Deputy Undersecretary for Health. "We're opening our doors to them virtually to let them know what they can expect when they step through our doors in reality."

The website will feature videos, Veteran stories, and a blog where Veterans are encouraged to post feedback. The site also will restructure the traditional index-of-benefits format found on other VA pages into question-based, categorized, and easily navigated links by topic. This will allow Veterans to find benefits of interest easily and discover related benefits as they explore.

"We hope our returning Veterans find this site easy and helpful, but also engaging," Dr. Cross said. "As the site grows, we will be linking to Veterans' blogs and highlighting more of their own stories from their own views. We are their VA, so we are eager to provide a forum for Veterans to discuss their lives."

Department of Education Proposes Revision of High School Longitudinal Study of 2009; NSF Supports Linkage of Study with State Longitudinal Data Systems
The Department of Education has proposed a revision of the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009.

The "HSLS:09" is a nationally representative, longitudinal study of more than 20,000 9th graders in 944 schools who will be followed through their secondary and postsecondary years.

The Department of Education notes:

The study focuses on understanding students' trajectories from the beginning of high school into university or the workforce and beyond. What students decide to pursue when, why, and how are crucial questions for HSLS:09, especially, but not solely, in regards to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses, majors, and careers. This study will include a new student assessment in algebraic skills, reasoning, and problem solving and like past studies, will survey students, their parents, math and science teachers, school administrators, and school counselors. This first wave of data collection for HSLS:09 will produce not only a nationally representative dataset but also ten individual state representative datasets for each of ten states.

Finally, HSLS:09 provides for a further level of analysis for certain states, through the linkage of HSLS:09 data with state longitudinal data systems. NCES has received funds from NSF to produce state-level estimates for 10 states in HSLS:09 - California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. The added step of linking to state records systems greatly extends the power and utility of the HSLS:09 and marks an important innovation with many possible positive future implications.

The April 14, 2009 FEDERAL REGISTER provides full background and instructions for the submission of comments.

Department of Education Updates: FY 2009 Perkins Allocations; Recovery Act Resources for Adult Learning; Adolescent and Adult Literacy Research; Community College and Prison Partnerships
Recent updates on funding, research and studies from the Department of Education:

Estimated State Allocations for FY 2009 under Titles I and II of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV)

Matrix: Federal Programs Supporting Adult Education and Literacy within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

New Commissioned Study at National Research Council on Adolescent and Adult Literacy

Over the next three years, the National Research Council's newly formed committee-Learning Sciences: Foundations and Applications to Adolescent and Adult Literacy, will conduct a study of the scientific foundations of adolescent and adult literacy. This research will reveal important findings with implications for policy and practice.

Importantly, this study will provide a broad understanding of the factors that affect typical and atypical literacy learning in adolescence and adulthood generally and with respect to the specific populations served by adult education. The study will also cover related issues such as motivation, retention, and prevention.

April 7, 2009 Summary of Undertaking

Partnerships Between Community Colleges and Prisons: Providing Workforce Education and Training to Reduce Recidivism (March 2009)

WWW.SHIFTING-GEARS.ORG Designed to Help Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio Align Education and Workforce Development; Assist Low-Income Adults in Obtaining Skills and Credentials
The Center for Law and Social Policy has recently launched a new website -- www.shifting-gears.org -- designed to help states increase the number of low-income working adults who have the skills and credentials they need to compete for jobs in demand.

Shifting Gears is a Joyce Foundation-sponsored initiative that aims to promote regional economic growth by aligning adult education, workforce development and postsecondary education in five states - Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The website is intended to highlight innovative approaches in these states and provide information about policies and practices that work across the nation.

Back To Top

Urban Institute Announces April 21 Audio Webcast on Green Jobs and Low-Wage Workers
The Urban Institute has announced an audio webcast on "A New Safety Net for Working Families: Green Jobs and Low-Wage Workers" to be held at 9:00 a.m. (EST) on April 21, 2009.

The panelists are expected to address the following issues:

• What are the characteristics of green jobs? Which jobs in this growing sector are relevant to low-skilled workers?
• What are the Recovery Act's key features that will help low-income individuals access these jobs?
• What should the federal government's role be in promoting green development, particularly for low-income families?
• What types of training will help low-skilled individuals get green jobs?
• What should states and localities do to ensure that low-skilled workers benefit from the growth in green jobs?
• What can we learn from localities' experiences in establishing partnerships to develop green jobs?

Additional Background / Listing of Panelists / Instructions for Washington D.C. Attendees

Registration for the Audio Event

Appalachian Regional Commission Issues Two RFPs; Community Colleges and Non-Profits Eligible to Apply for Funding under Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficiency Training and Certification Programs
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has issued two Requests for Proposals (RFPS) as part of its FY 2009 energy grant competition The deadline for submission of proposals is May 29, 2009.

Renewable-Energy and Energy-Efficiency Training and Certification Programs
ARC expects to provide seven to ten awards of up to $40,000 each, for a total of $250,000 in awards, to help implement energy-efficiency and renewable-energy training and certification programs for adults within the Appalachian Region. These training programs can be administered by postsecondary institutions, such as vocational and technical schools, community colleges, and four-year colleges and universities, as well as by nonprofit trade associations, other nonprofit organizations, and government entities. The programs will provide trained employees for supply-chain jobs in the renewable-energy and energy-efficiency fields, certification for installers of renewable-energy and energy-efficiency technologies, and support for implementing energy-efficiency education and training curricula.

See www.arc.gov/images/rfp/ARC Energy RFP Training and Certification.pdf for requirements.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for K-12 Schools
ARC expects to provide six to ten awards of up to $45,000 each, for a total of $250,000 in awards, to help implement energy-efficiency and renewable-energy programs in K-12 schools within the Appalachian Region. This grant program will underwrite costs of installing renewable-energy and energy-efficiency equipment in K-12 schools in Appalachia, and provide support for the implementation of associated science, environment, and business curricula in the classroom. Renewable-energy equipment eligible for this RFP will include: wind power; solar power, both solar thermal or photovoltaics; fuel cells; biofuels; and geothermal systems. A range of energy-efficiency technologies are also eligible for this grant program.

See www.arc.gov/images/rfp/ARC Renewable Energy For Schools Program.pdf for requirements.

P/PV and Aspen Institute Announce Applications for Sector Skills Academy Accepted through May 20; Opportunity to Share Ideas and Experiences with Colleagues in Sectoral Development Field
Public/Private Ventures and the Aspen Institute have announced that applications for the Sector Skills Academy are now open.

Designed for leaders from community-based organizations, community colleges, labor-management partnerships and business associations, the Academy is a year-long program involving workshops, mentoring, technical assistance and peer support. During three 3-day workshops, participants will hear from leading sectoral practitioners, share ideas and experiences, and gain exposure to innovative ideas and creative leaders in today's sectoral development field.

As an integral part of the Academy, each participant will reflect on and refine his/her vision, strategy and implementation plan for a specific sectoral initiative, compatible with his/her own organization's vision and goals. Applicants should be involved in a current sector initiative or developing a new initiative and have the authority within their organization to lead such an effort.

The Academy's fifth class of approximately 25 participants will begin in October 2009. Applications to the Academy will be accepted through May 20, 2009. To learn more about the Academy, please visit www.sectorskillsacademy.org.

HHS/ACF Proposes New Data Collection -- Application for Office Refugee Resettlement Targeted Assistance Formula Grants
HHS/ACF today has proposed a new data collection -- Application for Office of Refugee Resettlement Targeted Assistance Formula Grants.

Targeted assistance funds must be used primarily for employability services intended to enable refugees and entrants to obtain jobs with less than one year's participation in the program.

Services funded with targeted assistance formula grants must be used to assist refugees and entrants in the following order of priority:

• Refugees who are cash assistance recipients, particularly long-term recipients;
• unemployed refugees and entrants who are not receiving cash assistance; and
• employed refugees and entrants in need of services to retain employment or to attain economic independence.

Comments are due by June 10.

The April 10 FEDERAL REGISTER provides full background along with contact information for obtaining the collection and submitting comments.

Western Governors University to Launch Competency-Based B.S. in Nursing Leading to RN Licensure
The Western Governors University reported on April 9, 2009:

Last year, more than 50,000 applicants to nursing schools were turned away, despite a nationwide shortage of registered nurses. To address this crisis in U.S. healthcare, Western Governors University, www.wgu.edu, has joined with state workforce agencies as well as healthcare institutions to develop the first national, accredited, online competency-based bachelor's degree program aimed at preparing students for initial licensure as registered nurses.

The program, which is called the Multi-State Approach to the Preparation of Registered Nurses, or MAP-RN, received unanimous approval by the California Board of Registered Nursing earlier this month, and the pilot program is slated to begin in July at three Southern California hospitals. This innovative program combines WGU's online, competency-based academic approach with intensive clinical simulations and clinical practice at partner hospitals supervised by onsite clinical coaches serving as WGU adjunct faculty.

This innovative new approach to nursing education is a partnership among WGU, the Governor's Task Force for the California Nurse Education Initiative Workforce and Labor Development Agency, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Texas Workforce and Labor Development Agency, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Catholic Healthcare West, Hospital Corporation of America, Kaiser Permanente, Tenet Healthcare, and Universal Health Services. For more information regarding this program, go to www.wgu.edu/rn.

"This partnership is a great example of our healthcare providers, educators, and the state working together to alleviate our nursing shortage and get more Californians to work," said California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. "This new competency-based program is a win-win for California by making nursing programs more accessible to people interested in pursuing this career path and helping to fill critically needed jobs throughout the state."

"Prospective nurses will now have access to a high quality degree program that will enable them to earn a B.S. and prepare for their RN license flexibly and affordably," said WGU President Robert Mendenhall. "The B.S. in Nursing leading to initial licensure program complements WGU's other bachelor's and master's degree nursing programs for already-licensed RNs and supports our mission to provide educational opportunities and degree programs to meet the needs of underserved populations and employers with critical workforce needs."

Back To Top

ETA Seeks Extension of Labor Market Information Cooperative Agreement; Comments Due to OMB by May 6
The Labor Market Information Cooperative Agreement includes all information required by the State Workforce Agencies to apply for funds to assist them in operating one or more of the five LMI programs operated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and, once awarded, report on the status of obligation and expenditure of funds, as well as close out the Cooperative Agreement.

The Employment and Training Administration is currently seeking an extension (without change) of the information collection associated with the Cooperative Agreement.

The Labor Market Information (LMI) Cooperative Agreement April 6, 2009 FEDERAL REGISTER provides full background, summarizes the relevant contact information for obtaining the information collection request and submitting comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and describes the desired focus for public comment. Comments are due to OMB by May 6, 2009.

Also see:

January 6, 2009 FEDERAL REGISTER

Census Bureau Announces Availability of New OnTheMap e-Learning Module
The Census Bureau Report reports:

The OnTheMap e-learning tool has been updated for the current version at http://lehd.did.census.gov/led/datatools/elearning/OnTheMap/player.html. In 22 minutes, it demonstrates how to do basic analyses using OnTheMap with five years of employment and segmented age, earnings and industry data for local and regional areas in 46 partner states.

OnTheMap allows users to define custom areas for detailed analyses; illustrate flows of workers across state borders; produce and export reports and maps; view time-series animation over the five available years of data; and perform Area Profile and Shed Analyses for work and home areas in both local and regional geographies.

Comments should be sent to CES.Local.Employment.Dynamics@census.gov.

Aspen Institute's Survey of Entry-Level Training Programs in Construction Industry Now Underway; Workforce Community Encouraged to Respond by April 10
The Aspen Institute's Workforce Strategies Initiative has recently announced it is conducting a census to develop a fuller understanding of existing entry-level training programs in the construction industry - size, geographic distribution, services offered, and the capacity to serve low-income individuals.

Aspen has reported that the opportunity to complete the census extends through April 10th.

Click here for access to the survey.

Those in the workforce community who offer construction-related training or employment services are encouraged to consider completing the survey. It takes approximately 20 minutes to finish. The analysis will be published at a later date.

Maritime Administration Announces Funding Opportunity; Grant Funds Authorized to Conduct Training Programs to Foster Technical Skills and Operational Productivity
Maritime Administration Announces Funding Opportunity; Grant Funds Authorized to Conduct Training Programs to Foster Technical Skills and Operational Productivity

The Maritime Administration has announced the availability of $17,150,000 for grants for capital improvements, and related infrastructure improvements at qualified shipyard facilities that will be effective in fostering efficiency, competitive operations, and quality ship construction, repair, and reconfiguration.

Applications are due by May 10.

Note:

"Grant funds may also be used for maritime training programs to foster technical skills and operational productivity in communities whose economies are related to or dependent upon the maritime industry. However, grants for such training programs may only be awarded to "Eligible Applicants" ... but training programs can be established through vendors to such applicants."

The Maritime Administration also notes that applications received for funding under the Assistance for Small Shipyards program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as announced in the March 4, 2009 FEDERAL REGISTER will also be considered for funding under the April 2, 2009 FEDERAL REGISTER announcement with without any additional action required by the applicant.

To view PDF files you need Acrobat reader.  
To view the pdf file as html, go to Adobe's PDF-to-HTML conversion tool