If you do not have the cash to hire or retain skilled workers, or to pay for staff training in the US, workforce investment grants will do it for you!
However, there is a chance that you have never heard of workforce investment grants. Or, it could be that you have heard about it. but do not know how it works.
Well, let’s tell you more about workforce investment grants, then!
On July 22, 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law by the government of the United States. The act is intended to assist jobseekers in obtaining employment, education, training, and support services. And, it was the intention of the US government, that such assistance will enable organizations to compete favorably in the global market.
Additionally, the relationships that will emerge in the long run, will connect businesses with the required skilled workers that can enable them compete in the global economy. The Act therefore represents the first legislative reform of the public workforce system since 1998.
Workforce investment grants are one of the most important mechanisms through which the WIOA achieves its mission across the US.
There’s a catch, though, and we think it’s best that you know this about workforce investment grants!
Workforce investment grants under the WIOA are meant for eligible companies to execute innovation initiatives, not for individual WIOA consumers. Therefore, Individuals who have interest in WIA services, such as occupational or career training, do not qualify for WIOA grants.
Alternatively, such individuals may speak with their local workforce development area staff.
Keeping Abreast Of Changing Times
To keep up with changing times, WIOA activities are reviewed from time to time, with new directions often issued from the US Department of Labor. For instance, new amendments from the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) mandates the production of regional and local workforce development strategic plans from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2024.
In a recent letter written to State and Local stakeholders in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Acting Assistant Secretary Angela Hanks of the Employment And Training Administration Advisory System, has again called for a review of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for the year 2022 through 2024.
See document below for more on this
- View the Complete Document (PDF)
- Accessible Version (PDF)
Source: US Department Of Labor
Workforce Innovation Grant Funding Opportunities Right Now
1. Workforce Pathways for Youth – FOA-ETA-22-07
The grant supports out-of-school time (OST) groups that serve historically underserved and marginalized adolescents aged 14 to 21 all over the US. So, if yours is an out-of-school group that’s interested in taking care of the youth, the Workforce Pathways for Youth demonstration grants is for you.
Also, the funding will focus on age-ready and workforce ready programs. Such workforce investment grants programs could include soft skill development, career exploration, job readiness and certification, summer jobs, year-round job opportunities, and apprenticeships, to improve job training and workforce paths for youth.
On the plus side, partnerships between workforce boards and youth-serving groups will also benefit from the funding.
The deadline for applications is April 25, 2022.
Want to know more about this?
Check Full Announcement (PDF format)
2. Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) Grant Program – FOA-ETA-22-06
The Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) grant program is an offshoot of the Funding Opportunity Announcement. This FOA supports a national investment strategy that intends to strengthen and modernize the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) system. Also, the FOA will promote Registered Apprenticeship as a workforce development solution. Applicants can apply for funding in one of four grant categories:
(1) State Apprenticeship System Building and Modernization
(2) Youth RAP Expansion
(3) Ensuring Equitable RAP Pathways Through Pre-Apprenticeship Leading to RAP Enrollment and Equity Partnerships and
(4) Registered Apprenticeship Hubs.
Additionally, the ABA grant program builds on the Department’s previous and ongoing efforts to expand and modernize Registered Apprenticeship. It achieves this by increasing access to and completion of RAPs for belittled populations and underserved communities, thereby diversifying RAP industries.
The deadline for applications is April 25, 2022.
Want to know more about this?
Check Full Announcement (PDF format)
3. Pathway Home 3 – FOA-ETA-22-04
Indeed, the Pathway Home Grant Program is an offshoot of the Linking Employment Activities Pre-Release (LEAP) implementation study. Pre-release services are given through jail-based American Job Centers, and participants are linked to post-release programs through the LEAP pilots.
These programs will remove the time gap between release from jail and enrollment into a workforce development reentry program. And, it would lead to skills-based employment.
Maybe that sounds unrealistic to you, and you’re now wondering how this program leads to skill-based employment?Well, it does this by offering reentry services that begin while participants are still in jail and continue after their release.
Such adults must however be of ages 18 and above who have seen conviction under federal, state, or municipal law. And, it doesn’t matter if they are in state/local correctional facilities or county prisons.
The programs are for them, as long as their release dates fall within 20 to 270 days after enrollment in the program.
The deadline for applications is April 19, 2022.
Want to know more about this?
Check Full Announcement (PDF format)
4. Growth Opportunities – FOA-ETA-22-03
As a matter of fact, the Department will introduce and prepare justice-involved teenagers and young adults for the world of employment. They intend to achieve this by placing such teenagers in paid work experiences under the Growth Opportunities grant program.
These funds target youths and young adults, who are the most affected by community violence. Particularly in places where there is a high level of crime and poverty. Also, the program targets communities that have recently undergone considerable upheaval, and are now in need of help.
Because of this, the initiative supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s comprehensive approach to address gun violence and other forms of violent crime. And, how does it do this?
By implementing preventive measures, there have been a marked reduction in violent crime and improvement in public safety and community well-being.
READ ALSO: How to Get School Grants for Veteran Spouses
The deadline for applications is April 21, 2022
Want to know more about this?
Check Full Announcement (PDF format)
5. Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant – FOA-ETA-22-02
The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) (or SCC2) is receiving applications for the second round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants. However, this training project is in two sections for the purposes of this FOA:
- Normal program awards known as SCC2 Program Grants, and
- Additional evaluation monies known as Additional SCC2 Evaluation Funding.
The goal of this program is to meet two interrelated needs:
1) Initially, increasing community colleges’ capacity and responsiveness to identified equity gaps, and
2) Secondly, meeting the skill development needs of employers in high-demand industries and career pathways, as well as the skill development needs of underserved and underrepresented workers.
Finally, these subsidies should help community colleges improve their capacity to address identified equity gaps. The subsidies will also help them satisfy the skill development needs of employers in high-demand areas and career pathways that lead to good jobs.
As a matter of fact, the program needs a high level of collaboration between community colleges, employers, and the public workforce development system. These collaborative efforts will result in long-term system-level changes in education and training. Thus, that synergy between education and training, work experiences, and industry-recognized credentials will lead to career advancement in such communities.
The deadline for applications is June 2, 2022
Want to know more about this?
Check Full Announcement (PDF format)
6. The Workforce Innovation Grant Program
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) have teamed up to create the Workforce Innovation Grant Program.
This program awards regional organizations up to $10 million in funding to help them build and implement innovative solutions to address the workforce difficulties that were created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also, this program promotes the creation of cutting-edge, long-term solutions that help businesses discover workers more readily. It also empowers workers to better prepare for and connect to family-supporting occupations in their communities.
The awards are open to governmental entities, non-profits, and tribal governments. Around $40.5 million is available in grant money, and applications has been on since February 22, 2022.
The deadline for applications is April 15, 2022.
Want to know more about this?
Check Full Announcement (PDF format)
Conclusion
So, if your organization is looking to improve the efficiency of your workforce but cannot afford the costs, we are sure you now know that workforce investment grants are the key.
Above all, we hope you now have enough resources to help you achieve your dreams by enhancing innovation in your community. Don’t forget, that workforce investment grants are available to any US company, and are meant to help improve your competitiveness on the global market.
Now, you know what to do as well as how to do it!
So, what would you say is stopping you from doing the needful?
