Establishment of grant program

(a) Grants authorized (1) In general The Secretary of Labor shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to develop and implement workforce training programs. (2) Geographic diversity To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure geographical diversity in selecting eligible entities to receive grants under subsection (a). (b) Eligible entity An eligible entity is a consortium of the following: (1) An organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)); (2) A national training organization with dues paying affiliated members in at least 10 States; (3) An accredited institution, not including an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 101)); or (4) An institution that operates a post-secondary, career and technical network of accredited, dues paying institutions. (c) Uses of funds (1) In general An eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act shall use such grant to— (A) develop and implement a career and technical education program as described in subsection (d); (B) offer a program to enrollees prior to the participation of such enrollees in a workforce training program that supports the enrollees in transitioning to a learning environment, which shall include— (i) opportunities to foster camaraderie among enrollees; (ii) prepare enrollees for training success; (iii) tutoring and employment readiness coaching; and (iv) cognitive behavioral techniques to support a change in the perception and thinking of enrollees; (C) provide— (i) need-based stipends to enrollees in a workforce training program to assist enrollees in completing training programs; (ii) conflict resolution services and regular check-ins on a monthly basis to an employer that employs an enrollee who has completed a workforce training program offered by the eligible entity; and (iii) supportive services to enrollees; (D) partner with an employer that— (i) pays a living wage; (ii) provides avenues for career growth and professional development to enrollees who complete a program of an eligible entity that the employer partnered with; and (iii) engages in the career training process, including— (I) serving on an industry advisory group; (II) assisting the eligible entity with establishing a career and technical education program as described in subsection (d); (III) sponsoring internships; and (IV) participating in mock interview hiring sessions and hiring fairs; (E) determine the qualifications and credentials required for employment by the employers identified in paragraph (4); (F) assess and understand the demand of employers for employees in the local areas in which; (G) identify employers that pay a living wage in the local areas in which an eligible entity operates a career and technical education program; (H) identify employers and industry sectors in which job growth is expected to occur; (I) produce— (i) an analysis of existing and emerging in-demand industry sectors and occupations and the employment needs of employers in such industry sectors; and (ii) an analysis of the knowledge and skills needed to meet the employment needs of the employers in the States in which the entity operates a career and technical education program; and (J) implement strategies to recruit individuals into the workforce training program and assess prospective enrollees. (2) Required allocation of funds An eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act shall use at least 70 percent of such grant for the uses of funds described in subparagraphs (A) and (C)(i). (d) Career and technical education program A career and technical education program developed and implemented under this Act shall— (1) be developed to meet the in-demand needs of employers in the local area in which such program is being implemented; (2) pay enrollees a living wage; (3) be at least 12 weeks in duration; (4) upon an enrollee completing such a program, result in the enrollee earning a recognized post-secondary credential; (5) operate in at least 10 States; (6) prioritize enrollees who read at no higher than the 6th grade reading level; and (7) ensure that at least 50 percent of the individuals enrolled the program are— (A) offenders (as defined in section 3(38) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102(3)(38))); (B) low-income and economically isolated individuals (including individuals who are from rural, urban, and historically disadvantaged communities); and (C) from populations that have been underserved or adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. (e) Application (1) In general To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, an eligible entity shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Priority The Secretary shall prioritize eligible entities that propose to carry out a workforce training program in the following industries: (A) Construction. (B) Disaster relief and recovery services. (C) Industrial manufacturing. (D) Food manufacturing. (E) Supply chain management and services. (F) Information technology. (G) Financial services. (H) Ship building and other defense-related industries. (I) Health care. (f) Report Not later than 1 year after and eligible entity receives a grant under this Act, and on an annual basis thereafter, each eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary of Labor a report on the following: (1) The earnings of each enrollee— (A) prior to entering into a career and technical education program operated by such eligible entity; and (B) 6 months after completing such program. (2) The percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment— (A) after 30 days and prior to 90 days after exit from such program; and (B) after 280 days and prior to 365 days after exit from such program; (3) The starting wages of the program participants described in paragraph (2)(A); and (4) The percentage of program participants who obtain a recognized postsecondary credential during participation in, or within 1 year after exit from, the program. (g) Definitions In this Act: (1) Career and technical education The term career and technical education has the meaning given the term in section 3(5) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302). (2) Living wage The term living wage means a wage that one full-time worker earns that covers the cost of the minimum basic needs of the worker and the family of the worker for the area in which such worker lives. (3) Supportive services The term supportive services means services such as transportation, child care, dependent care, housing, and needs-related payments, that are necessary to enable an individual to participate in a career and technical education program carried out under this Act. (4) WIOA terms The terms local area and recognized postsecondary credential have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).