Project: EVALUATION OF THE HIGH GROWTH JOB TRAINING INITIATIVE    

Sponsor: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration with the Urban Institute
Status: In process   
IPS Staff: Demetra Smith Nightingale

Purpose and Approach
This study involves a comprehensive review and assessment of the President’s High Growth Job Training Initiative, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA). ETA has awarded over 100 grants to state and local organizations developing partnerships with businesses to implement demand-driven strategies designed to meet the needs of high-growth industries and sectors by improving the capacity of the workforce investment and education system to provide needed training. The grants can be used for a range of activities, including developing appropriate training curricula and competency measures and upgrading the capacity of training providers, as well as supporting high quality, demand-driven training developed through the partnerships. The targeted sectors include health care, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, energy, construction/skilled trades, and other industries with high demand for skilled workers. The study includes grant application reviews, field work in selected localities, and analysis of quarterly reporting data grantees submit to ETA to measure outcomes and results and to identify potentially promising strategies and projects for the Department of Labor.

Results
The first report presents implementation lessons based on a sample of early grantees. The researchers found that most agencies began to plan for long-term sustainability of their projects early in their grant period, while simultaneously addressing sometimes difficult challenges related to recruiting trainees, coordinating with employers and public agency partners, and developing grant-reporting management information systems.

Publications
Trutko, J., C. O’Brien, P. Holcomb, and D. S. Nightingale (2007). “Implementation and Sustainability: Emerging Lessons From The Early High Growth Job Training Initiative Grants.” Washington, DC: The Urban Institute.