CFDA#
17.285
|
|
Funder Type
Federal Government
|
IT Classification
B - Readily funds technology as part of an award
|
|
|
Authority
Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
Summary
This announcement solicits applications for the ABA2 grant program. The purpose of the ABA2 grant program is to build on efforts funded under the first round of the ABA grant program. ABA2 grants will continue to expand, diversify, and strengthen the Registered Apprenticeship system through support for public/ private partnerships designed to serve a range of industries and individuals and promote Registered Apprenticeship as a workforce development solution that translates training into good jobs. In addition, ABA2 will prioritize in-demand sectors and occupations including: IT/cybersecurity, K-12 teacher occupations, care economy (nursing, early care, mental health, and more), clean energy, and other relevant industries and sectors such as hospitality, public sector, and/or occupations in the supply chain sectors (logistics, warehouse, transportation, and manufacturing, including but not limited to advanced manufacturing, such as semiconductor manufacturing and bio-manufacturing) that align with President Biden's Investing in America Agenda, including historic legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden such as the American Rescue Plan Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
ABA2 continues to apply the model employed in the first round of the ABA, which awarded grants in multiple categories to deliver maximum impact for employers and career seekers and provides funding for three categories of grants: (1) Ensuring Equitable RAP Pathways and Partnerships Through Pre-apprenticeship Leading to RAP Enrollment, (2) Creation of Education System-aligned Pre-apprenticeship Programs and RAPs, and (3) Registered Apprenticeship Hubs. Across all three categories, all awarded grants must demonstrate a commitment to key Administration priorities and principles including DEIA; job quality; support for high-quality, scalable, and sustainable programs; research and evidence-based approaches; and new opportunities for innovation, engagement, and ease of access.
Grantees will also be required to collaborate across ABA grants and other related DOL-funded Registered Apprenticeship investments. This collaboration will leverage and align efforts to maximize the use of knowledge sharing and resources and minimize the duplication of efforts, ultimately ensuring that the key stakeholders of the Registered Apprenticeship system are served efficiently.
ABA2 Grant Categories
- Category 1: Ensuring Equitable RAP Pathways and Partnerships Through Pre-apprenticeship Leading to RAP Enrollment: Grantees will establish and develop public-private partnerships with pre-apprenticeship programs leading to RAP enrollment during the grant period of performance. This activity will advance Registered Apprenticeship initiatives designed to increase diversity and equity in Registered Apprenticeship for underrepresented populations and undeserved communities, including a focus on quality pre-apprenticeships. Applicants are encouraged to use industry-wide pre-apprenticeship program models that feed into a broad range of RAPs. Further, as access to supportive services is an important element of quality pre-apprenticeship, applicants are encouraged to integrate supportive services to increase access to and completion of pre-apprenticeships and RAPs. (See Appendix A for a definition of equity partnerships and supportive services.)
- Category 2: Creation of Education System-aligned Pre-apprenticeship Programs and RAPs: Grantees will establish and expand partnerships that commit to creating and expanding education system-aligned pre-apprenticeship programs that lead to RAPs during the grant period of performance and/or education system-aligned RAPs that serve youth and adult learners through coordination and direct tie with the education system (CTE, adult education, correctional education, community colleges, post-secondary education, institutions of higher education, state education systems), industry, workforce intermediaries, labor organizations, youth-serving and community-based organizations, and other stakeholders. These partnerships will lay the foundation for expanded system capacity with the development of pre-apprenticeship programs and RAPs aligned with the education system that connect youth and adult learners to a career pathway in key, in-demand industries. Pre-apprenticeship programs and RAPs must include CTE, integrated education and training, post-secondary, and/or degreed components, have a documented partnership with at least one RAP sponsor and at least one education system partner, and pre-apprenticeship programs should be designed to build work experience and align with an industry-based focus to allow for career exploration as well as lead to RAP enrollment during the grant's period of performance. The Department is particularly interested in programs that provide college credit leading to a degree. (See Appendix A for a definition of degreed RAP.)
- Category 3: Registered Apprenticeship Hubs: Grantees will establish industry or sector-led multi-partner networks capable of serving as multi-employer RAP sponsors and/or intermediary partnerships with the primary focus of supporting industry's needs for creating and expanding RAPs in in-demand sectors and occupations. Registered Apprenticeship Hubs will develop innovative and scalable Registered Apprenticeship strategies at a local, regional, state, or national scale that incorporate worker-centered sector strategies driven by strong and diverse partnerships of public and private sector entities to promote systems change and empower workers through equity, skills, and innovation. (See Appendix A for definition of worker-centered sector strategy.) Types of industry or sector-led Registered Apprenticeship Hubs to be funded under this category include:
- Local/regional or Statewide-focused Registered Apprenticeship Hubs: Serve as Registered Apprenticeship intermediaries to convene local stakeholders with the ultimate goal of developing and launching RAPs. These organizations serve as intermediaries with RAP expertise working across local communities and/or multiple regions in a multi-employer sponsor and/or technical assistance (TA) capacity.
- National Industry- or Sector-Focused Network Hubs: Serve as Registered Apprenticeship intermediaries with RAP expertise to convene stakeholders with the ultimate goal of developing and launching RAPs. These organizations serve as industry and/or sector experts working nationally and/or within multiple regions in a multi-employer sponsor and/or TA capacity.
History of Funding
Full details of ABA2 awards can be found at https://www.apprenticeship.gov/investments-tax-credits-and-tuition-support/past-grants-and-contracts
Additional Information
Cross-Cutting Principles:
For all three grant categories, applicants must specifically address how they will meet the following cross-cutting principles to ensure these projects will help expand the availability of Good Jobs for all:
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA): Focus on embedding DEIA principles into RAPs and RAP expansion, including expanding the RAP model into new and traditional industries to improve outcomes for workers from underrepresented populations and underserved communities. Underrepresented populations include women, people of color, and individuals with disabilities, as established in 29 CFR Part 30, where the population's participation in RAPs is significantly less than would be expected given the availability of such individuals for apprenticeship in the relevant industry, occupation, or recruitment area. Underserved communities include veterans, justice-involved individuals, youth, and those in rural communities.
- Job quality: Focus on promoting RAPs as a key strategy to move workers into good jobs across all industries and promoting the hallmarks of RAPs (e.g., progressive wage increases and worker safeguards), promoting working conditions for apprentices that are consistent with the Good Jobs Principles – a shared federal vision of job quality published by the Departments of Labor and Commerce – and promoting adaptable approaches to training workers.
- Support for high-quality, sustainable programs: Focus on ensuring that all RAPs have the features of high-quality apprenticeships, such as progressive wage increases and national industry-recognized credential upon program completion, and that those efforts support a broader workforce development agenda to support a sustainable apprenticeship system on a national scale.
- Research and evidence-based approaches: Incorporate strategies to improve the efficient and effective use of evidence- and research-based approaches to support workforce development initiatives involving RAPs.
- New opportunities for innovation, engagement, and ease of access: Focus on innovative strategies that support the expansion and modernization of RAPs, which may include, but are not limited to, engaging with an array of new and diverse organizations in RAPs; developing RAPs in emerging industries based on labor market demands; increasing access to RAPs; developing innovative program delivery models; and leveraging technology to provide technical assistance, increase ease of access, remove jobseeker employment and training barriers, and improve system alignment.
Eligibility Details
Lead entities funded under the ABA grant program (announced via FOA-ETA-22-06) are not eligible to apply for ABA2 funding.
The following organizations are eligible to apply under each grant category:
Category 1: Ensuring Equitable RAP Pathways and Partnerships Through Pre-apprenticeship Leading to RAP Enrollment
- Cities;
- Municipalities;
- Workforce Development System Entities - Organizations involved in administering the workforce development system established under WIOA (29 U.S.C. 3151), which are limited to State Workforce Development Boards, Local Workforce Development Boards, and Indian Tribe and Tribal Organizations and Native Hawaiian Organizations (as defined in WIOA Section 166(b) (29 USC 3221(b));
- Institutions of Higher Education (e.g., Community Colleges, MSIs (including but not limited to HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and AANAPISIs);
- Industry groups and associations;
- State Education Agencies (SEAs) or Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
- Labor unions and joint labor-management partnerships;
- Workforce and apprenticeship intermediaries: Organizations functioning as business-related entities/workforce intermediaries for the express purpose of serving the needs of businesses, individual businesses, or consortia of businesses;
- Community-based organizations (CBOs): Organizations that are representative of a community or significant segments of a community and that provide education, career technical education or rehabilitation, job training, or internship services and programs and includes neighborhood groups and organizations, community action agencies, community development corporations; and
- Consortia: A consortium of organizations that is led by an eligible entity whose principal function(s) is consistent with the capabilities associated with either one or more of the above-listed organizations. A consortium is a group made up of two or more organizations, companies, or governments that work together to achieve a common objective.
Required Partners:
Applicants are required to identify required partners in their abstract and shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:
- A minimum of two employer sponsors or two intermediary sponsors, or an industry/trade association that represents at least two employers;
- For programs with a local or state-wide geographic scope, the State Apprenticeship Agency (for states with a federally recognized SAA) that serves the area contemplated in the proposed scope; and
- A minimum of one equity-focused CBO, Minority Serving Institution (MSI) or Minority Serving Institutions' Organization or Association. MSIs are institutions of higher education that serve minority populations including, but are not limited, to HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and AANAPISIs.
Optional Partners:
- workforce intermediaries, such as workforce development boards;
- labor unions and labor-management organizations;
- community-based organizations;
- private non-profit service providers;
- other organizations to support outreach and training activities, such as: industry-led training organizations, industry intermediaries, or non-profit educational organizations;
- Small Business Development Centers;
- American Job Centers;
- community organizations that provide supportive and/or wrap-around/supportive services;
- SAAs (if not already a required partner);
- WIOA programs, including Job Corps and YouthBuild programs;
- foundations and philanthropic organizations; and
- other federally-funded programs.
As appropriate, the Department encourages applicants to partner with labor organizations (labor unions or joint-labor management partnerships).
Category 2: Creation of Education System-aligned Pre-apprenticeship Programs and RAPs
- Cities;
- Municipalities;
- Workforce Development System Entities - Organizations involved in administering the workforce development system established under WIOA (29 U.S.C. 3151), which are limited to State Workforce Development Boards, Local Workforce Development Boards, and Indian Tribe and Tribal Organizations and Native Hawaiian Organizations (as defined in WIOA Section 166(b) (29 USC 3221(b)); • Institutions of Higher Education (e.g., Community Colleges, MSIs (including but not limited to HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and AANAPISIs);
- Perkins Eligible Agencies, Entities, or Recipients;
- State Education Agencies (SEAs) or Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
- Industry groups and associations;
- Labor unions and joint labor-management partnerships;
- Workforce and apprenticeship intermediaries: Organizations functioning as business-related entities/workforce intermediaries for the express purpose of serving the needs of businesses, individual businesses, or consortia of businesses;
- Community-based organizations (CBOs): Organizations that are representative of a community or significant segments of a community and that provide education, career technical education or rehabilitation, job training, or internship services and programs and includes neighborhood groups and organizations, community action agencies, community development corporations; and
- Consortia: A consortium of organizations that is led by an eligible entity whose principal function(s) is consistent with the capabilities associated with either one or more of the above-listed organizations. A consortium is a group made up of two or more organizations, companies, or governments that work together to achieve a common objective.
Required Partners:
Applicants are required to identify required partners in their abstract which shall include at a minimum, all the following:
- A minimum of one RAP sponsor or an industry/trade association;
- A minimum of one Education or Training Provider (e.g., institutions of higher education, CTE programs at community and technical colleges or at the K-12 level, SEAs, LEAs ); and
- For projects with a local or state-wide geographic scope, the State Apprenticeship Agency (for states with a federally recognized SAA).
Optional Partners:
May include, but are not limited to, relevant organizations from the following list:
- workforce intermediaries, such as workforce development boards;
- labor unions and labor-management organizations;
- community-based organizations;
- private non-profit service providers;
- other organizations to support outreach and training activities, such as: industry-led training organizations, industry intermediaries, or non-profit educational organizations;
- Small Business Development Centers;
- American Job Centers;
- community organizations that provide supportive and/or wrap-around/supportive services;
- SAAs (if not already a required partner);
- WIOA programs, including Job Corps and YouthBuild programs;
- foundations and philanthropic organizations; and
- • other federally-funded programs.
As appropriate, the Department encourages applicants to partner with labor organizations (labor unions or joint-labor management partnerships).
Category 3: Registered Apprenticeship Hubs
Applicants for funding under this category must demonstrate regional stakeholder expertise or industry/sector expertise depending upon the applicant's state hub focus area.
Local/regional or Statewide-focused Registered Apprenticeship Hubs
- Cities;
- Municipalities;
- Workforce Development System Entities – Organizations involved in administering the workforce development system established under WIOA (29 U.S.C. 3151), which are limited to State Workforce Development Boards, Local Workforce Development Boards, and Indian Tribe and Tribal Organizations and Native Hawaiian Organization (as defined in WIOA Section 166(b) (29 USC 3221(b));
- Institutions of Higher Education (e.g., community colleges, MSIs (including but not limited to HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and AANAPISIs) school districts);
- Industry groups and associations;
- Labor unions and joint labor-management partnerships;
- Workforce and apprenticeship intermediaries: Organizations functioning as business-related entities/workforce intermediaries for the express purpose of serving the needs of businesses, individual businesses, or consortia of businesses;
- Community-based organizations (CBOs): Organizations that are representative of a community or significant segments of a community and which provides education, career technical education or rehabilitation, job training, or internship services and programs and includes neighborhood groups and organizations, community action agencies, community development corporations; and
- Consortia: A consortium of organizations that is led by an eligible entity whose principal function(s) is consistent with the capabilities associated with either one or more of the above-listed organizations. A consortium is a group made up of two or more organizations, companies, or governments that work together to achieve a common objective.
National Industry or Sector-led Hubs
- Industry groups and associations;
- Labor unions and joint labor-management partnerships;
- Consortia: A consortium of organizations that is led by an eligible entity whose principal function(s) is consistent with the capabilities associated with either one or more of the above-listed organizations. A consortium is a group made up of two or more organizations, companies, or governments that work together to achieve a common objective.
Required Partners:
Applicants are required to identify required partners in their abstract and shall include at minimum all the following:
- An employer sponsor and/or joint or non-joint employer groups with at least two employers.
- A minimum of one equity-focused CBO or Minority Serving Institution (MSI) or Minority Serving Institutions Organization or Association. MSIs are institutions of higher education that serve minority populations, including, but are not limited to, HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and AANAPISIs; and
- For projects with a local or state-wide geographic scope, the State Apprenticeship Agency (for states with a federally recognized SAA).
Optional Partners:
May include, but are not limited to, relevant organizations from the following list:
- workforce intermediaries, such as workforce development boards;
- labor unions and labor-management organizations;
- community-based organizations;
- private non-profit service providers;
- other organizations to support outreach and training activities, such as: industry-led training organizations, industry intermediaries, or non-profit educational organizations;
- Small Business Development Centers;
- American Job Centers;
- community organizations that provide supportive and/or wrap-around/supportive services;
- SAAs (if not already a required partner);
- WIOA programs, including Job Corps and YouthBuild programs;
- foundations and philanthropic organizations; and
- other federally-funded programs.
As appropriate, the Department encourages applicants to partner with labor organizations (labor unions or joint-labor management partnerships).
Deadline Details
Applications for Round 2 (ABA2) were to be submitted by April 15, 2024. Contact funder to inquire about upcoming deadlines.
Award Details
Approximately $95,000,000 of total funding is available for the ABA2 grant program. Awards will range from $1 million up to $8 million. The Department plans to award between 12 and 25 grants. The period of performance is 48 months with an anticipated start date of 07/01/2024. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities. This program does not require cost sharing or matching funds.
Related Webcasts
