U.S. Department of Labor awards 2014 WIF grants

Published On: October 15, 2014

Eleven organizations in nine states awarded $50,744,449.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded $50,744,449 in Workforce Innovation Fund (WIF) grants to improve federal job training programs. The grants will be used to deliver services more efficiently, facilitate cooperation across federal and state workforce programs and funding streams, and expand partnerships with specific employers or industry sectors to develop programs that reflect current and future skill needs.

The WIF goals are closely aligned with the Obama administration’s job-driven training principles. Grantees will work with local and regional employers, industry groups and their state commerce and development agencies to strengthen public-private partnerships. In addition, all grants require an evaluation component that will help increase the body of knowledge about the most effective strategies in workforce development.

A total of 11 grants, ranging from $2.9 million to almost $12 million were awarded to a combination of state workforce agencies and local workforce investment boards in the second round of competition under the WIF. Approximately $171 million in grants were awarded in the first round, which included $147 million for 26 grants in July 2012 and $24 million for two Pay for Success grants in October 2013.

The 2014 grantees are:

  • City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Calif.: $6,000,000.
  • Monterey County Workforce Investment Board, Salinas, Calif.: $3,000,000.
  • San Diego Workforce Partnership Inc., San Diego Calif.: $6,000,000.
  • Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Tallahassee Fla.: $3,000,000.
  • KentuckianaWorks (Greater Louisville’s Workforce Investment Board), Louisville, Ky.: $2,935,813.
  • City of New Orleans, New Orleans, La.: $5,812,485.
  • W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, Kalamazoo, Mich.: $3,000,000.
  • Workforce Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties, Utica, N.Y.: $3,000,000.
  • Job Growers Inc., Salem, Ore.: $2,999,999.
  • County of Venango, Franklin, Pa.: $3,000,000.
  • Virginia Community College System, Richmond, Va.: $11,996,152.

Visit the DOL website for more information.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor