US Dept of Labor Workforce Innovation Fund Grants Announced

The Department of Labor is releasing the Workforce Innovation Fund (WIF) Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA), which can be found here. The SGA summary is also attached.

This SGA announces the availability of approximately $98.5 million in WIF grants. These funds support innovative approaches to the design and delivery of employment and training services that generate long-term improvements in the performance of the public workforce system, both in terms of outcomes for job seeker and employer customers and cost-effectiveness. Grants made under the WIF will provide funds to states and local workforce areas to a) retool service delivery strategies and/or policy and administrative systems and processes to improve outcomes for workforce system customers and b) evaluate the effectiveness of such activities. ETA expects to fund approximately 20 to 30 grants; individual grant amounts will range from $1 million to $12 million. The closing date for applications will be March 22, 2012.

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

Notice of Funding Opportunity and Solicitation for Grant Application (SGA) for Workforce Innovation Fund Grants

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA).
Funding Opportunity Number: SGA/DFA PY 11-05.

SUMMARY: Through this notice, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announces the availability of approximately $98.5 million in Workforce Innovation Fund grants authorized by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (P.L. 112-10) to support innovative approaches to the design and delivery of employment and training services that generate long-term improvements in the performance of the public workforce system, both in terms of outcomes for job seeker and employer customers and cost-effectiveness. ETA expects to fund approximately 20 to 30 grants; individual grant amounts will range from $1 million to $12 million. The eligible applicants are (i) State Workforce Agencies; (ii) Local Workforce Investment Boards; (iii) entities eligible to apply for WIA Section 166 grants; (iv) consortia of State Workforce Agencies; (v) consortia of Local Workforce Investment Boards; and (vi) consortia of entities eligible to apply for WIA Section 166 grants. Grants made under the Workforce Innovation Fund will provide funds to (a) retool service delivery strategies and/or policy and administrative systems and processes to improve outcomes for workforce system customers and (b) evaluate the effectiveness of such activities.

The complete SGA and any subsequent SGA amendments, in connection with this solicitation is described in further detail on ETA’s Web site at http://www.doleta.gov or on http://www.grants.gov. The Web sites provide application information, eligibility requirements, review and selection procedures and other program requirements governing this solicitation.

DATE: The closing date for receipt of applications is March 22, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ariam Ferro, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N4716, Washington, D.C. 20210; telephone: 202-693-3968.

The Grant Officer for this SGA is Donna Kelly.

Signed at Washington, D.C., this 20th day of December, 2011.
Eric D. Luetkenhaus
Grant Officer, Employment and Training Administration
Billing Code: 4510-FN-