Department of Labor Grant Would Help Cities Implement Recovery Funds for Workforce Development
by Katie Seeger
NLC has been awarded a grant by the Department of Labor (DOL) Employment and Training Administration to help cities and states implement workforce development programs funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
NLC will collaborate with six other intergovernmental organizations on this project.
NLC believes that workforce development is a cornerstone for creating strong local economies and prosperity for all citizens. Municipal leaders play a key role in ensuring that local workforce services prepare individuals for employment opportunities with career pathways, meet the needs of local and regional employers, and spur and support long-term economic growth.
“During these challenging financial times, cities across the country are helping their citizens access the services they need to prepare for and obtain long term and meaningful employment,” said NLC Executive Director Donald J. Borut. “NLC is excited to be working with the Department of Labor on this timely and important project.”
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 provides cities with an additional $500 million for Adult Employment and Training Programs and $1.25 billion for Dislocated Worker Employment and Training Programs.
Through a range of webinars, conference calls, information sharing opportunities and workshops, NLC will provide local leaders with resources and information to help them put their citizens back to work, meet the accountability and transparency requirements of ARRA, and contribute to the future economic growth of their cities. A peer-to-peer network is the first major tool that NLC has created to engage local officials.
New Peer-to-Peer Network
The peer-to-peer network will allow municipal leaders and other city staff to connect with each other and share information about local workforce activities, particularly those geared toward low-wage and low-skilled individuals and dislocated adult workers.
Through this network, NLC will document successes and struggles and help connect members with needed assistance and advice on the federal level.
Specifically, NLC will be examining: important developments and successful city practices; questions or concerns cities are encountering with ARRA funds; the technical assistance needs of local leaders; and the roles city leaders are playing in local workforce policy decisions and programs. This information will be used in several ways, including providing direct feedback to the Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration and developing promising practices and lessons learned that will be shared with the broader NLC membership.
As part of this network, members will also have access to workforce resources and contact with federal agencies and national workforce experts. Municipal officials and staff interested in participating in the peer-to-peer network should contact Katie Seeger at seeger@nlc.org or (202) 626-3131 for more details.
Additional Information
In addition to the peer-to-peer network, NLC’s Institute for Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Institute) is examining how cities are using their ARRA workforce funds to reengage disconnected youth. This work will also be shared with the other intergovernmental grant partners and DOL Employment and Training Administration. For more information on this project, click here or contact Carlos Becerra at Becerra@nlc.org, or (202) 626-3160.
NLC’s grant for the DOL Employment and Training Administration totals $150,000. The seven intergovernmental organizations participating in the DOL Employment and Training Administration grant include: NLC; National Association of Counties; U.S. Conference of Mayors; National Governors Association Center for Best Practices; National Conference of State Legislatures, National Association of State Workforce Boards; and National Association of Workforce Boards.
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