The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U. S. Department of Labor (We, DOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $150 million in funds for the H-1B Ready to Work Partnership (Ready to Work) grant program.
The Department expects to fund approximately 20-30
grants with individual grant amounts ranging from $3 million to $10 million.
This grant program is designed to provide long-term unemployed workers with individualized counseling, training and supportive and specialized services leading to rapid employment in occupations and industries for which employers use H-1B visas to hire foreign workers.
A small percentage of other unemployed and/or incumbent workers may also be served through this program.
These grants are financed by a user fee paid by employers to bring foreign workers into the United States under the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program.
This program was authorized under Section 414 (c) of the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (ACWIA), as amended (29 USC 2916a).
Grant awards will be made only to the extent that funds are available.
Grants will be awarded to the lead applicant of a public and private partnership of entities that includes:
the workforce investment system; training providers, such as community colleges and community-based and faith-based organizations; and, business and business-related groups, trade associations, nonprofit business or industry, organizations functioning as workforce intermediaries for the expressed purpose of serving the needs of businesses, individual businesses, or consortia of businesses.
As a pre-condition to be considered for Ready to Work funding, there must be at least three employers or a regional industry association consisting of at least three employers who are actively engaged in the project.
Additional partners that reflect the character and resources of the local or regional economy and the community are strongly encouraged.
Finally, the department is committed to producing strong evidence on the effectiveness of the grantee programs and full participation in any national evaluation initiated by DOL is a condition of all grants awarded.