WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $159,266,650 in grants to 36 public-private partnerships serving 20 states and the District of Columbia through the first round of funding under the H-1B Technical Skills Training Grant Competition. The grants will provide education, training and job placement assistance related to high-growth fields in which employers are currently using the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program to hire foreign workers, such as advanced manufacturing, energy, health care and information technology.

“These grants are an important part of the administration’s efforts to help ensure that our workers have the chance to succeed in new and emerging fields, and that growing businesses have access to the skilled American workforce they need,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

Secretary Solis announced the grant awards during a press conference at The Catholic University of America in Washington, which received nearly $4.2 million to support training in health care information technology.

More than $85 million of the total announced today will be used to provide training to individuals who have been unemployed for longer than six months. In addition, more than $70 million will be used to provide on-the-job training, which allows participants to learn new skills while earning a regular paycheck. All of the grantees are required — as demonstrated on their applications — to partner with at least one area employer that will provide assistance in one of the following areas: defining program goals and activities, identifying necessary skills and competencies, providing resources to support education and training, or helping design the program.

These grants are funded through fees paid by employers to bring foreign workers into the United States under the H-1B program. The grants are intended to raise the technical skill levels of American workers and, over time, help businesses reduce their need to use the H-1B program.

The original solicitation for grant applications announced funding of $240 million to be awarded through two rounds of funding. Because additional H-1B visa fees have been collected, about $100 million more than anticipated for on-the-job training will be available for the second round. Interested parties are encouraged to visit http://www.grants.gov to check eligibility requirements and apply. The competition will close on Nov. 17.

Editor’s note: A complete list of grantees, including their locations, award amounts and targeted industries is below.

* indicates the grant will include activities targeted to help the long-term unemployed
^ indicates the grant will include on-the-job training

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work to create comprehensive multi­-year educational and professional pathways that

include post secondary education, social support, tutoring, experiential learning, career

advising and internships, leading to college degrees and high wage, high growth careers.