New funding for projects to help laid-off workers

The US Department of Labor has just announced $20 million in funding for projects that build skills and employment options for workers who are currently or are at risk of becoming "dislocated." That's workforce development jargon for "laid off."

Only state workforce agencies are eligible to compete.

There are four categories of funding:

1. Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Dislocated Workers, to help people launch small businesses;
   
2. Getting Ahead of the Curve: Raising Educational/Skill Levels of Workers in Declining Industries, to upgrade skills for workers likely to be laid off;
3. Innovative Adult Learning Models for Dislocated Workers, to identify new and innovative ways to train unemployed workers; and
4. Preventing Dislocations of TANF Recipients Moving Into Entry  Level Jobs Subject to Economic Churn, to help former TANF recipients maintain  employment and enter or advance within high-growth industries

You can read the full Federal Register announcement here. Deadline to submit a proposal is June 13, 2008.

In other DOL funding news, ETA announced Wednesday it plans to give more than twice that much, $49.5 million, in grants for projects to "enhance education and career opportunities in high schools" (Federal Register announcement). Only six school districts nationwide have been invited to compete: Baltimore City, MD; Berkshire Farms, NY; New York City, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Puerto Rico; and Salem-Keizer, OR. However, faith- and community-based organizations working with those school districts are also eligible to submit proposals.