The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today announced a new, two-phase competition to build the workforce investment system's capacity to support careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

"Since approximately half of America's economic growth in the past several decades has been attributed to industries related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, this $10 million grant competition will boost the ability of the workforce investment system to support the pursuit of careers in these high-growth industries that provide excellent job opportunities," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. 

STEM-related industries have been identified by the National Science Foundation as producing almost 50 percent of U.S. economic growth during the last 50 years. While approximately five percent of the nation's workforce is employed in a STEM field, there is growing concern about losing potential U.S. workers for these high quality careers.

The competition is open to local workforce investment boards (WIBs), which may submit proposals on behalf of defined, multi-county regions that incorporate various workforce investment areas. Exceptions to these requirements are made for rural areas, or portions of states where only one WIB exists. Joint applications for regions that cross state lines will be accepted.

Funds are expected to be awarded in fall 2008 following a two-stage process. First, each interested WIB must submit a maximum eight-page concept paper describing how its region will advance STEM education, training and placement activities. The competition's preliminary phase will close March 11, 2008. After a review, applicants of selected initial proposals will be notified to develop full proposals for Phase II of the competition.

Proposals must clearly outline how activities will result in the achievement of the overall objectives of this initiative, including: expanding training and aligning current STEM-related activities and resources at One-Stop Career Centers; providing participants with access to STEM coaches and mentors who will link program participants to employers, and provide advice and guidance on entering STEM fields; and creating "career blueprints" outlining career paths for individual participants. 

This Solicitation for Grant Applications appears in today's Federal Register and can be found online at www.grants.gov.