[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77554-77555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31878]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Growing America Through Entrepreneurship II 
Evaluation

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and 
Training Administration (ETA) proposed information collection request 
(ICR) titled, ``Growing America Through Entrepreneurship II 
Evaluation,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review 
and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

DATES: Submit comments on or before January 12, 2012.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the 
RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, on the 
day following publication of this notice or by contacting Michel Smyth 
by telephone at (202) 693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or 
sending an email to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Office of Management and 
Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: (202) 395-6929/
Fax: (202) 395-6881 (these are not toll-free numbers), email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at (202) 
693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Project Growing America Through 
Entrepreneurship (GATE) was an experimental design demonstration that 
investigated the impact of providing entrepreneurship training services 
to individuals interested in starting or growing a business. The 
cornerstone of the evaluation was random assignment. A total of 4198 
applicants to Project GATE were randomly assigned to either a program 
group or a control group. The project was implemented in both rural and 
urban locations in Maine, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota from 2002 to 
2009. In Project GATE, treatment group members were offered an 
assessment of their business needs, classroom training, one-on-one 
technical assistance, and assistance in applying for business 
financing. A telephone survey of participants and control group members 
was conducted to collect three waves of data at approximately six 
months after random assignment, 18 months after random assignment, and 
60 months after random assignment. A process evaluation as well as an 
impact evaluation of the effectiveness of the GATE model were conducted 
utilizing site visits, surveys, and administrative data.
    The proposed evaluation of Project GATE II grants is necessary for 
policymakers and program developers to determine whether the model can 
be successfully implemented for dislocated workers. This follow-up 
survey is the only way to collect information on self-employment 
experiences, receipt of microenterprise services, and household income.
    Project GATE II will be evaluated using an experimental design. 
Individuals that submitted an application for GATE II in each site and 
who met minimal eligibility criteria are being randomly assigned to 
either a program group or a control group. Members of the program group 
are eligible to receive GATE II services, while members of the control 
group are not eligible to receive GATE II services, although they will 
not be prohibited from receiving self-employment services from other 
sources.
    As already noted, unlike the first Project GATE demonstration, 
which was available to all applicants, services under GATE II are 
targeted towards Workforce Investment Act dislocated workers. In June 
2008, grants were awarded to implement GATE II in four states--Alabama, 
Minnesota, North Carolina, and Virginia. Two states, Alabama and North 
Carolina, were selected to target services to dislocated workers in 
rural areas, while the two other States, Minnesota and Virginia, were 
selected to target dislocated workers 45 years old and older.
    This information collection needed to conduct the evaluation is 
subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or 
sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not 
required to respond to an information collection, unless it is approved 
by the OMB under the PRA and displays a currently valid OMB Control 
Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of

[[Page 77555]]

law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to 
comply with a collection of information if the collection of 
information does not display a valid OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 
1320.5(a) and 1320.6. For additional information, see the related 
notice published in the Federal Register on May 5, 2011 (76 FR 25723).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should identify the ICR Reference Number, 
201108-1205-006. The OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration (ETA).
    Title of Collection: Growing America Through Entrepreneurship II 
Evaluation.
    OMB ICR Reference Number: 201108-1205-006.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 1584.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 1584.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 792.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: December 7, 2011.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-31878 Filed 12-12-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FN-P