§ 2373. Industry or Sector Partnership Grant program for communities impacted by trade
(a)
Purpose
The purpose of this subpart is to facilitate efforts by industry or sector partnerships to strengthen and revitalize industries and create employment opportunities for workers in communities impacted by trade.
(b)
Definitions
In this subpart:
(1)
Community impacted by trade
The term “community impacted by trade” has the meaning given that term in section
2371 of this title.
(2)
Dislocated worker
The term “dislocated worker” means a worker who has been totally or partially separated, or is threatened with total or partial separation, from employment in an industry or sector in a community impacted by trade.
(3)
Eligible partnership
The term “eligible partnership” means a voluntary partnership composed of public and private persons, firms, or other entities within a community impacted by trade, that shall include representatives of—
(C)
multiple firms in the industry or sector, including small- and medium-sized firms, within the community;
(c)
Sector Partnership Grants authorized
Beginning on August 1, 2009, and subject to the appropriation of funds, the Secretary shall award Sector Partnership Grants to eligible partnerships to assist the eligible partnerships in carrying out projects, over periods of not more than 3 years, to strengthen and revitalize industries and sectors and create employment opportunities for dislocated workers.
(d)
Use of Sector Partnership grants
An eligible partnership may use a Sector Partnership Grant to carry out any project that the Secretary determines will further the purpose of this subpart, which may include—
(1)
identifying the skill needs of the targeted industry or sector and any gaps in the available supply of skilled workers in the community impacted by trade, and developing strategies for filling the gaps, including by—
(A)
developing systems to better link firms in the targeted industry or sector to available skilled workers;
(2)
analyzing the skills and education levels of dislocated and incumbent workers and developing training to address skill gaps that prevent such workers from obtaining jobs in the targeted industry or sector;
(3)
helping firms, especially small- and medium-sized firms, in the targeted industry or sector increase their productivity and the productivity of their workers;
(5)
developing learning consortia of small- and medium-sized firms in the targeted industry or sector with similar training needs to enable the firms to combine their purchases of training services, and thereby lower their training costs;
(6)
providing information and outreach activities to firms in the targeted industry or sector regarding the activities of the eligible partnership and other local service suppliers that could assist the firms in meeting needs for skilled workers;
(7)
seeking, applying, and disseminating best practices learned from similarly situated communities impacted by trade in the development and implementation of economic growth and revitalization strategies; and
(8)
identifying additional public and private resources to support the activities described in this subsection, which may include the option to apply for a community grant under section
2371d of this title or a Community College and Career Training Grant under section
2372 of this title (subject to meeting any additional requirements of those sections).
(e)
Grant proposals
(1)
In general
The lead entity of an eligible partnership seeking to receive a Sector Partnership Grant under this section shall submit a grant proposal to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(2)
General requirements of grant proposals
A grant proposal submitted under paragraph (1) shall, at a minimum—
(B)
identify the targeted industry or sector for which the eligible partnership intends to carry out projects using the Sector Partnership Grant;
(C)
describe the goals that the eligible partnership intends to achieve to promote the targeted industry or sector;
(E)
demonstrate that the eligible partnership has the organizational capacity to carry out the projects described in subparagraph (D);
(f)
Award of grants
(1)
In general
Upon application by the lead entity of an eligible partnership, the Secretary may award a Sector Partnership Grant to the eligible partnership to assist the partnership in carrying out any of the projects in the grant proposal that the Secretary determines will further the purposes of this subpart.
(2)
Limitations
An eligible partnership may not be awarded—
(B)
a total grant award under this subpart in excess of—
(ii)
in the case of an eligible partnership located within a community impacted by trade that is not served by an institution receiving a Community College and Career Training Grant under section
2372 of this title, $3,000,000.
(g)
Administration by the Secretary
(1)
Technical assistance and oversight
(A)
In general
The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to, and oversight of, the lead entity of an eligible partnership in applying for and administering Sector Partnership Grants awarded under this section.
(2)
Performance measures
The Secretary shall issue a range of performance measures, with quantifiable benchmarks, and methodologies that eligible partnerships may use to measure progress toward the goals described in subsection (e). In developing such measures, the Secretary shall consider the benefits of the eligible partnership and its activities for workers, firms, industries, and communities.
(h)
Reports
(1)
Progress report
Not later than 1 year after receiving a Sector Partnership Grant, and 3 years thereafter, the lead entity shall submit to the Secretary, on behalf of the eligible partnership, a report containing—
(A)
a detailed description of the progress made toward achieving the goals described in subsection (e)(2)(C), using the performance measures required under subsection (e)(2)(G);
(2)
Annual report
Not later than December 15 in each of the calendar years 2009 through 2011, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a report—