What's New in Workforce Investment?

The Department of Labor has announced the availability of up to $5 million to fund 16 or more Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program grants. Approximately 2,600 veterans will receive job training and related services to help them succeed in civilian careers.

Funds for the grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment boards, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, and faith-based and community organizations. Because these groups are intimately connected with their local economies and the needs of homeless veterans, they can offer occupational, classroom and on-the-job training, as well as job search and placement assistance, including follow-up services. Awards will range from $100,000 to $300,000 each.

The solicitation for grant applications is available at http://www.grants.gov. For more information, visit that site and http://www.dol.gov/vets/, or contact grants officer Cassandra Mitchell at 202-693-4570.

News Release

The Employment and Training Administration has issued Training and Employment Guidance Letter 29-12.

The provides  policy and program guidance for the development, management, and delivery of Labor Market Information and Workforce Information (LMI-WI) funded through  Workforce Information Grants to States (WIGS ) for services to job seekers, employers, educators, economic developers, and others .

The TEGL specifically addresses:

• Required, Encouraged and Allowable Activities
  

Required Products (Workforce Information Database, State and local industry and occupational employment projections, statewide annual economic analysis report, and other economic and labor market reports an products.


• Other encouraged activities
  


• Required Methods (partnerships, customer consultation, data collection and research methodology, publication requirements, information technology specifications)
  


• Application for Federal Assistance, Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements (including annual performance report)
  

The Obama Administration has announced that it is launching competitions to create three new manufacturing innovation institutes with a Federal commitment of $200 million across five Federal agencies – Defense, Energy, Commerce, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. 

To build off the initial success of a pilot institute headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio, the President announced in the State of the Union that his Administration would move forward and launch three new manufacturing innovation institutes this year.  The President will continue to call on Congress to act on his proposal for a one-time $1 billion investment to create a network of 15 manufacturing innovation institutes across the country. 

The Department of Defense will lead two of the new Institutes, focused on “Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation” and “Lightweight and Modern Metals Manufacturing”, and the Department of Energy will be leading one new institute on “Next Generation Power Electronics Manufacturing”.  

All three institutes will be selected through an open, competitive process, led by the Departments of Energy and Defense, with review from a multi-agency team of technical experts.  Winning teams will be selected and announced later this year.  Federal funds will be matched by industry co-investment, support from state and local governments, and other sources.  Like the pilot institute, these Institutes are expected to become financially self-sustaining, and the plan to achieve this objective will be a critical evaluation criterion in the selection process.  DOD and DOE are opening the competition for the three new institutes immediately. 

Press Release / Additional Background

Department of Defense –  “Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation”

Department of Defense –  “Lightweight and Modern Metals Manufacturing”

The Obama Administration today announced that it is accepting applications for the first phase of the "Investing in Manufacturing Communities" Partnership, a new initiative outlined in the President's fiscal year 2014 budget that will help accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing and create jobs across the country.

Phase One of the "Investing in Manufacturing Communities" Partnership: In the first phase of this effort, the Departments of Commerce and Agriculture as well as the Small Business Administration and Environmental Protection Agency will award at least 25 grants of up to $200,000 each to help regions develop long-term economic development strategies intended to create a globally competitive environment that will attract, retain and expand investment and spur international trade and exports. These "Implementation Strategies" will encourage collaboration at the local level to identify the region's comparative advantages and assets, and plan investments to expand the area's appeal to manufacturers. In addition, these grants can be used to help communities prepare for the second phase of this initiative, IMCP "Challenge" grants.

Phase Two of the "Investing in Manufacturing Communities" Partnership: President Obama's fiscal year 2014 budget includes funds for the Department of Commerce to award five to six IMCP "Challenge" grants, expected to be up to $25 million each. These funds are intended to be supplemented by coordinated investments from several other federal departments and agencies. The 2014 challenge will reward communities for having the best long-term strategies for attracting private investment and increasing exports, and should combine many of the elements companies seek when they are deciding where to locate or expand, such as: specialized research centers at local universities; business incubators focused on targeted technology sectors; community college programs to train workers in targeted industries; public works projects to upgrade infrastructure or enhance energy efficiency; viable export promotion plans; well-integrated supply chains; and an engaged community of local government, education, workforce, and business leaders.

News Release

Executive Summary

To apply for Fiscal Year 2013 Implementation Strategy grants, please visit: http://www.eda.gov/challenges/imcp/.

For more information on the entire IMCP, please visit http://www.commerce.gov/news/fact-sheets/2013/04/17/fact-sheet-investing-manufacturing-communities-partnership.

The Labor Department (@USDOL), Acting Secretary of Labor Seth Harris (@ActingSecHarris) and The American Legion (@AmericanLegion) will be on hand to answer questions about resources available to connect veterans with good jobs during a Twitter town hall on Monday, May 13, from 11 a.m. – noon EDT. Use the hashtag #VetsJobsChat to join!

The department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released its report on veterans unemployment in 2012, which showed a decline to 7.0 percent from 8.3 percent in 2011. That’s good news, but for the Department of Labor and veterans service organizations like The American Legion, it’s an opportunity to redouble our efforts to make sure every veteran who wants a job can find one.

In his fiscal year 2014 budget for the Department of Labor, President Obama has doubled down on his commitment to employing veterans with additional investments in the department’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, the agency that leads the federal government’s charge to help veterans find good jobs. The American Legion is a longtime supporter of VETS; in February, VETS Assistant Secretary Keith Kelly spoke during the Legion’s annual Washington Conference.

Together, government agencies and veterans service organizations constitute a vast support network for our transitioning service members, and we want to make sure veterans and employers have the information they need to find the programs or services that meet their needs. For more information on the Legion’s efforts in the area of veterans employment, click here.

You can submit your questions in advance by using the hashtag #VetsJobsChat or by sending them via email to Contact.VETS@dol.gov. We look forward to a lively discussion!