FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Initiative - Third Generation (SGA-DFA-PY-06-09).
In the 21st century global economy, talent development is a critical component in our nation's economic competitiveness. To stay ahead of global competition, we must identify strategies to further integrate workforce development, economic development, and education at the regional level - where companies, workers, researchers, entrepreneurs and governments come together to create a competitive advantage. Launched in February 2006, the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Initiative focuses on the role of talent development in driving regional economic competitiveness, job growth and new opportunities for American workers. The goal of WIRED is to expand employment and advancement opportunities for workers and catalyze the creation of high-skill and high-wage opportunities in regional economies. The WIRED Initiative is currently providing regions across the country with grant funding and ongoing technical assistance from ETA and a cadre of experts in order to help them achieve these goals.

To further support regions that are seeking to transform their economies and enhance their global competitiveness through talent development, ETA is announcing a new round of grants for the third generation of regions under the WIRED Initiative. The third generation is designed to fully engage local workforce investment boards in collaborative partnerships and transformational leadership within regional economies nationwide. The Department of Labor is making $65 million available for this new round of grants. This round of the WIRED Initiative will take place over the course of three years and the Department anticipates that individual grant awards will total $5 million over this period. Only Governors may apply on behalf of regions within their states or across state lines. Each Governor may submit up to two applications.
Issue Date: February 12, 2007
Closing Date: April 13, 2007
http://www.doleta.gov/sga/sga/DOL-SGA-DFA-PY-06-09.pdf


Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) grants (SGA-DFA-PY-06-01).
The Women's Bureau and the Employment and Training Administration's (ETA) Office of Apprenticeship, U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), announce the availability of $972,180 to establish a grant program for the purpose of assisting employers and labor unions in the placement and retention of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations. This program year 2006 SGA is authorized under the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102-530, 29 USC § 2501 et seq. To that end, the OA and the WB plan to disburse 2006 WANTO grant funds to three community-based organizations (CBOs) including faith-based organizations (FBOs)/registered apprenticeship program (RAP) consortia to conduct innovative projects to improve the recruitment, selection, training, employment, and retention of women in apprenticeships in the construction industry. Each CBO/RAP consortium must consist of a minimum of:1) a construction industry Registered Apprenticeship Program sponsor, and 2) a CBO (which may be faith based) with demonstrated experience in securing job training services from established training institutions such as community colleges, and providing placement and support services to women in construction industry jobs.
Issue Date: February 13, 2007
Closing Date: April 16, 2007
http://www.doleta.gov/sga/sga/SGA-DFA-PY-06-01-WANTO.pdf


High Growth Job Training Initiative Grants for the Long-Term Care Sector of the Health Care Industry (SGA-DFA PY-06-07).
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), announces the availability of approximately $2.5 million in grant funds for demand-driven regional approaches to meeting the workforce challenges of the long-term care sector of the health care industry under the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative.

The President's High Growth Job Training Initiative (HGJTI) is a strategic effort to prepare workers for new and increasing job opportunities in high-growth, high-demand, and economically vital industries and sectors of the American economy. Through the initiative, ETA identifies high-growth, high-demand industries, evaluates their skill needs, and funds local and national partnership-based demonstration projects that: (a) address workforce challenges identified by employers; and (b) prepare workers for good jobs with career pathways in these rapidly expanding or transforming industries. When linked to broader regional economic and talent development strategies, the HGJTI approach strengthens regional employment and economic opportunities. The products, models, and effective approaches that result from HGJTI investments will be broadly disseminated to employers, education and training providers, and the workforce system to build their capacity to respond to employers' workforce needs.

Grant funds awarded under this Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) should be used to implement industry-driven training solutions that address the long-term care sector's critical workforce challenges. Each solution must take place in the context of a regional strategic partnership between the workforce investment system, long-term care employers, and education and training providers, as well as other public and private sector partners that bring critical assets to the table. Proposed solutions should take full advantage of existing workforce development models, promising practices, and tools. Solutions must either take an existing promising solution, model, or approach to scale in the region or adapt a solution that has been demonstrated to have positive impact on the identified workforce development challenges in another region.
Issue Date: February 16, 2007
Closing Date: April 5, 2007
http://www.doleta.gov/sga/sga/SGA-DFA-PY-06-07-02-16-2007.pdf


AT&T Excelerator Grants
AT&T Excelerator Grants helps nonprofit organizations better serve their communities by improving technology resources, including hardware, software and networking tools. These grants also fund resources, such as Internet access and computer training, to assist organizations with various programs aimed to increase educational learning and job skills development. Maximum Award: $50,000. Eligibility: nonprofit organizations located in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
Issue Date: March 1, 2007
Closing Date: May 4, 2007
http://www.att.com/gen/corporate-citizenship?pid=7745