U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration H-1B Tech Hire Partnership Grants FOA-ETA CFDA Funding Opportunity Announcement Highlights Due: March 11, 2016 at 4:00 pm EST

Projects must – Focus on preparing and placing individuals into jobs within H1B industries and occupations – Serve minimum # of participants based on award amount of between $2 -5 million $2 – 3 million participants $3 – 4 million participants $4 – 5 million – participants grants expected to be awarded 48 month project ( June 1, 2016 through May 31, 2020)

H1B Industries Projects that support high-paying, middle & high-skilled & high growth jobs across H1B industries Permissible H1B industries are: – IT and IT related industries – Healthcare – Advanced Manufacturing – Financial Services – Educational Services Examples of industries that meet this criteria are: – IT: software development, network administration – Cyber security – Broadband – Non-IT industries that require tech. skills e.g. adv. mfg., healthcare, and financial services

Target Population Ages years and out of Secondary School Low-skilled workers with barriers to training and employment opportunities Must pick one of two types of projects: – Serving Youth & Young Adults between ages 17-29, (25% may be unemployed, dislocated, underemployed, & incumbent workers in lower-skill, lower-wages & front-line jobs). OR – Serving Special Populations: individuals with disabilities, limited English, criminal records (50% may be unemployed, dislocated, underemployed, & incumbent workers in lower-skill, lower-wages & front-line jobs; 25% can be incumbent workers in front-line who need upskilling).

Three Customized Intervention Tracks to employment Intensive Coaching and other short-term specialized services culminating in direct job placement, paid internships or registered apprenticeships Short-term or accelerated training that may or may not result in an industry credential but will lead to employment Training along a career pathway that leads to an industry-recognized credential and employment

Training Strategies (outcomes driven) Paid Training Strategies: OJT; Work Experience; Internships; and Registered Apprenticeships Incumbent Worker Training Can serve 25% incumbent workers and Can include customized training. Other Training – Competency-based programs that give credit for current skills – Innovative programs e.g. coding boot-camps and other accelerated learning options, online/distance learning – Accelerated and contextualized classroom occupational training

Program Activities Customization of services to become employed, retain employment, or advance in current employment. Is a wide range of services such as: Job search, job development, job placement networking, mentoring Career Counseling (Navigators/student support can be 25% of the project budget). Outreach and recruitment Use industry recognized curricula – LMI info for students in IT – Develop articulations agreements to recognize credentials and courses Participant incentives tied to employment Case management – ADA accommodations, – transportation, – housing, financial counseling, relocation

Lead Applicant Eligibility Must Include the Following as Primary Partners – Workforce Investment System; – Education and Training Providers – Business-related nonprofit Organization functioning as a workforce intermediary e.g. regional trade/industry assn. A consortium of 3 or more businesses (chambers, tech associations, CIO roundtable groups); or At least 3 independent businesses Lead applicant must be one of the three primary partnerships. Whoever is the lead will be the POC with DOLETA and will: – Be the entity to draw down funds through the HHS-PMS; – have had at least 3 successful non-federal or federal projects similar in scope, size and relevance to the proposed project in the past 5 years. Or, – if fewer than 3 projects/agreements, present rationale – make your case. Applicants can partner on other applications where one is not the lead so it would be possible to submit more than one proposal with more than one viable project idea

Partnerships and Scope Must offer strategies/services that lead to job placement in H1B opportunities (employers identify). Need 25%+ of total requested funds in leveraged resources. Recommend multiple employer partners in an industry cluster. Geographic Scope – Local, regional or multi-regional area within or across state lines – For reg’l & multi-reg’l the workforce investment systems should serve as partner in at least 50% of the local Workforce Development areas served

DISCUSSION Casey’s Observations/Comments Evidence based design strategies that will be replicated at multiple sites are necessary for project requests of over $4M. Ed institutions need to be accredited at or groups on the WIOA eligible training providers list like RA programs. They are particularly interested in partnerships that include more than one training provider Must offer at least one but could do more than one of the following: Intensive Coaching and specialized job placement services; boot-camp; intensive credential training If we offer Boot-camp experience, provider only gets paid for students enrolled after successful placement with industry at target wage amounts with a focus on H1B jobs Optional partners that might be considered include those focused on youth or special populations – others?

Other Questions to Consider Cybersecurity Coding Advanced Manufacturing Any other H1B industry areas to consider? Partnership considerations – Any others opportunities to consider and with which organizations?