Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant Applications for H-1B Ready to Work Partnership Grants

Résumé

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (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 skilled 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 U.S.C. 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