U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on June 24 announced five grant competitions, totaling $500 million, to fund projects that prepare workers for “green” jobs in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.
Nongovernmental organizations (such as AGC Chapters and Chapter-sponsored educational foundations) are eligible to apply for three of the five competitions: Green Capacity Building Grants, Energy Training Partnership Grants and Pathways Out of Poverty Grants. The fourth and fifth grant competitions -- the State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grants and the State Labor Market Information Improvement Grants – will accept applications only from state Workforce Investment Boards.
All five grant competitions are funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. DOL is encouraging applicants to align their work “to other Recovery Act funded projects that create jobs or impact the skill requirements of existing jobs.”
AGC of America encourages any Chapter interested in applying for one of the grants to develop the broadest possible strategic partnership base, including community and faith-based organizations, labor-management organizations, educational organizations, employer organizations and the public work force system.
According to guidance DOL issued in early June, these grants must follow the Workforce Investment Act, as amended to incorporate the Green Jobs Act of 2007, which clearly states that all eligible partnerships must include labor-management organizations. AGC is supporting legislation recently introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to amend the Green Jobs Act to allow all for the inclusion of labor-management organizations without mandating their inclusion.
All grant applicants should focus on the energy-efficient sector of construction and show how they will use the grant funds to provide training to at least one of the following: unemployed workers, lower-skilled workers, high school dropouts, ex-offenders and/or displaced auto workers.
DOL is restricting lead applicants to one grant application each. However, the lead applicant for one competition is not prohibited from participating as a partner in an application submitted for a different competition.
The three DOL grant competitions open to nongovernmental agencies:
• Green Capacity Building Grants: $5 million to provide training for entry-level positions leading to career pathways and/or additional training in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. DOL expects to award between 50 and 100 grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. Closing date: August 5, 2009. Applications will be accepted only from organizations that have received DOL grants through one of the following programs:
o Advancing Registered Apprenticeship into the 21st Century: Collaborating for Success;
o Farmworker Jobs Program;
o Indian and Native American Program;
o Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative;
o Senior Community Service Employment Program;
o Women in Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Occupations;
o YouthBuild; and
o Young Offender Grants.
DOL will post a pre-recorded Webinar online about this competition at 3 p.m. EDT on Friday, July 10, 2009. The Webinar will be available continuously after that point.
• Energy Training Partnership Grants: $100 million for projects that provide training and placement services in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries for workers impacted by national energy and environmental policy, individuals in need of updated training related to the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries and unemployed workers. The Department expects to award 20-30 grants ranging from approximately $2 million to $5 million each. One-quarter of the $100 million is expected to be directed to applicants serving communities impacted by automotive-related restructuring. DOL will select applicants from two pools: (1) national labor-management organizations with local networks; and (2) statewide or local nonprofit partnerships that have formed “a joint partnership of labor organizations, employers or industry organizations, Workforce Investment Boards and One Stop Career Centers.” Closing date: September 4, 2009.
DOL will hold a Webinar for prospective applicants from 2-3:30 p.m. EDT on Monday, July 13, 2009. The Webinar will be recorded and posted no later than 3 p.m. EDT on Friday, July 17, 2009.
• Pathways Out of Poverty Grants: $150 million for projects that provide training and placement services to provide pathways into employment within the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries for unemployed individuals, high school dropouts, individuals with a criminal record and disadvantaged individuals. DOL will select applicants from two pools: (1) national nonprofit entities with networks of local affiliates, coalition members, or other established partners; and (2) local entities. A “national nonprofit entity” is described as a nonprofit that delivers services through networks of local affiliates, coalition members or other established partners in at least four states. A “local entity” can be a public organization, such as a community college, or private nonprofit organizations whose service area is a limited to geographic region that is less than a whole state, such as a neighborhood, city, county, portion of a state or portion of several states (such as Kansas City).
Required partners for both local and national entities must include at least one entity from each of the following five categories:
o Nonprofit organizations, such as community or faith-based organizations that have direct access to the
targeted populations;
o Public workforce investment system, such as a local Workforce Investment Boards;
o Education and training community;
o Public and private employers and industry-related organizations; and
o Labor organizations, including, but not limited to, labor unions and labor-management organizations.
ETA intends to fund grants ranging from approximately $3 million to $8 million for national entities, and grants ranging from approximately $2 million to $4 million for local entities. Closing date: September 29, 2009.
DOL will hold a Webinar for prospective applicants from 2-3:30 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 14, 2009. The Webinar will be recorded and posted no later than 3 p.m. EDT on Friday, July 17, 2009.
The full rules, requirements and eligibility guidelines for each of the grant competitions is available online.
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