Pilot program to support advanced manufacturing workforce development

Section 171 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2916) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(f)

Advanced manufacturing workforce development program

(1)

In general

Under a plan published under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, through grants or contracts, carry out demonstration and pilot projects for the purpose of facilitating the provision of education and training programs in the field of advanced manufacturing. Such projects shall— (A)target skills and competency development in communities with existing jobs in advanced manufacturing or expected growth in advanced manufacturing; (B)provide education and training for available jobs or job openings that are anticipated in advanced manufacturing, that result in an employer- or industry-recognized and nationally portable credential; (C)educate individuals about opportunities for career advancement within advanced manufacturing; and (D)give priority to incumbent workers, dislocated workers, and unemployed workers. (2)

Eligible entities

(A)

In general

To be eligible to receive a grant or enter into a contract under a project carried out under paragraph (1), an entity, in any of the States or outlying areas, shall be any of the following types of entities: (i)An institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), a postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in section 102(c) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1002(c)), or a tribally controlled college or university (as defined in section 2 of the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801)). (ii)A local board, in partnership with one or more one-stop career centers, that specifies one or more educational entities described in clause (i) where education and training activities will occur. (iii)A nonprofit organization. (iv)Another entity that would serve educationally underserved communities. (v)A consortium of entities described in clauses (i) through (iv). (B)

Priority

The Secretary shall give priority to any entity, or consortium of entities, described in subparagraph (A) that proposes to use the funds received under this subsection to leverage substantial non-Federal funding for the program involved. (3)

Application

To be eligible to receive a grant or enter into a contract under this subsection an eligible entity described in paragraph (2) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such form and manner as the Secretary shall determine, including each of the following: (A)A description of each eligible entity (including, in the case of a consortium, each eligible entity in the consortium), evidence of each eligible entity's capacity to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1), and a description of the expected participation and responsibilities of each eligible entity. (B)A description of education and training activities to be provided through the education and training program, and a description of how the activities will— (i)develop skills and competencies demanded by advanced manufacturing firms; (ii)lead to an employer- or industry-recognized and nationally portable credential; and (iii)educate individuals about opportunities for career advancement and wage growth within advanced manufacturing. (C)A description of how the economy, of the State, locality, or outlying area where the eligible entity submitting the application will provide the program, would benefit, including a description of— (i)evidence of existing jobs in advanced manufacturing or expected growth in advanced manufacturing in the State, locality, or outlying area; (ii)the potential to prepare individuals for existing jobs in advanced manufacturing or create additional job growth in advanced manufacturing through the program as a result of investments in education and training in advanced manufacturing; and (iii)how the eligible entity will expose incumbent workers, dislocated workers, and unemployed workers to new advanced manufacturing technology skill sets through the program. (D)A description of how the eligible entity will employ evidence-based training models that integrate academic instruction with training, including on-the-job training, in advanced manufacturing, to meet the goals described in paragraph (5). (E)A description of how the eligible entity will coordinate activities with State boards or local boards, and State or local economic development officials, in carrying out the program. (F)A description of how the eligible entity will enter into a partnership with— (i)a manufacturer who employs individuals with advanced manufacturing skills; and (ii)a labor organization whose members are employed in advanced manufacturing industries, where such a labor organization exists. (4)

Activities

Activities to be carried out under a program funded under paragraph (1) may include— (A)classroom and on-site experiential learning; (B)on-the-job training; (C)training that leads to an employer- or industry-recognized competency and nationally portable credential for advanced manufacturing; (D)development and implementation of registered apprenticeship programs, and preapprenticeship programs leading to registered apprenticeship programs; (E)coordination with local boards implementing and utilizing articulation agreements with educational entities described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) and other educational partners; (F)distance learning; and (G)any other activity the Secretary considers appropriate for training in advanced manufacturing. (5)

Goals and performance measures

(A)

Goals

The goals of the activities described in paragraph (4) shall be to— (i)enhance the skill sets of incumbent workers, dislocated workers, and unemployed workers who live in communities with existing jobs in advanced manufacturing or expected growth in advanced manufacturing, and enable such workers to obtain an employer- or industry-recognized and nationally portable credential; (ii)enable individuals with limited experience to develop competencies in advanced manufacturing; (iii)in an effort to meet the needs of advanced manufacturing businesses for adaptability in education and training of incumbent workers, strengthen partnerships of eligible entities described in paragraph (2) with— (I)manufacturers described in paragraph (3)(F); and (II)labor organizations described in paragraph (3)(F), where such labor organizations exist; and (iv)help incumbent workers, dislocated workers, and unemployed workers develop skills in advanced manufacturing that lead to employment or greater earnings than would otherwise be available without those skills. (B)

Performance measures

The Secretary shall negotiate, and reach agreement, with each eligible entity that receives a grant or enters into a contract under this subsection, on measures that will be used to evaluate the performance of the eligible entity in carrying out the activities described in paragraph (4) and meeting the goals described in subparagraph (A). Such performance measures shall consist of indicators of performance, and, at a minimum, shall include— (i)the number of workers, including incumbent workers, dislocated workers and unemployed workers, who are participants in the program involved, that receive employer- or industry-recognized and nationally portable credentials; (ii)the number of such participants, including dislocated workers and unemployed workers, that attain 1 or more basic skills that are required for an employer- or industry-recognized and nationally portable credential for advanced manufacturing; (iii)the number of such incumbent workers who obtain skills, through education and training, that meet the skill needs of employers to enhance operations; (iv)the earnings growth of such participants as a result of education and training provided through the program; and (v)other indicators the Secretary determines to be necessary to evaluate the performance of the eligible entity in carrying out the activities described in paragraph (4) and meeting the goals described in subparagraph (A). (6)

Evaluation

Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of the first disbursement of funds under this subsection, the Secretary shall provide for the continuing evaluation of the programs funded under this subsection, as required by section 172, and shall transmit a report of the evaluation to Congress not later than 2 years after such date and every 2 years thereafter.