Federal Grant Program Offers Opportunity for Construction Industry

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration has announced the availability of approximately $98.5 million in Workforce Innovation Fund grants to support employment and training services. While eligible applicants are limited to state workforce agencies, local workforce investment boards and organizations considered eligible to apply for WIA Section 166 (Native American and tribal) grants, applicants are strongly encouraged to create partnerships with employers and training entities to meet the needs of job seekers. Key components of the grants are to align employment and training services with the skill needs of employers; to strengthen partnerships with business; combine general academic instruction at high schools and community colleges with occupational training; and expand registered apprenticeship and other on-the-job training programs. As such, the AGC strongly encourages Chapters and members who have a connection to a pre-apprenticeship program, a registered apprenticeship program, a community college, and/or an eligible organization to work to include the construction industry in applications. More information about the Workforce Innovation Fund is available at http://www.doleta.gov/workforce_innovation.