§ 2916. — Demonstration, pilot, multiservice, research, and multistate projects.
[Laws in effect as of January 7, 2003]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 7, 2003 and December 19, 2003]
[CITE: 29USC2916]
TITLE 29--LABOR
CHAPTER 30--WORKFORCE INVESTMENT SYSTEMS
SUBCHAPTER IV--NATIONAL PROGRAMS
Sec. 2916. Demonstration, pilot, multiservice, research, and
multistate projects
(a) Strategic plan
(1) In general
After consultation with States, localities, and other interested
parties, the Secretary shall, every 2 years, publish in the Federal
Register, a plan that describes the demonstration and pilot
(including dislocated worker demonstration and pilot), multiservice,
research, and multistate project priorities of the Department of
Labor concerning employment and training for the 5-year period
following the submission of the plan. Copies of the plan shall be
transmitted to the appropriate committees of Congress.
(2) Factors
The plan published under paragraph (1) shall contain strategies
to address national employment and training problems and take into
account factors such as--
(A) the availability of existing research (as of the date of
the publication);
(B) the need to ensure results that have interstate
validity;
(C) the benefits of economies of scale and the efficiency of
proposed projects; and
(D) the likelihood that the results of the projects will be
useful to policymakers and stakeholders in addressing employment
and training problems.
(b) Demonstration and pilot projects
(1) In general
Under a plan published under subsection (a) of this section, the
Secretary shall, through grants or contracts, carry out
demonstration and pilot projects for the purpose of developing and
implementing techniques and approaches, and demonstrating the
effectiveness of specialized methods, in addressing employment and
training needs. Such projects shall include the provision of direct
services to individuals to enhance employment opportunities and an
evaluation component and may include--
(A) the establishment of advanced manufacturing technology
skill centers developed through local partnerships of industry,
labor, education, community-based organizations, and economic
development organizations to meet unmet, high-tech skill needs
of local communities;
(B) projects that provide training to upgrade the skills of
employed workers who reside and are employed in enterprise
communities or empowerment zones;
(C) programs conducted jointly with the Department of
Defense to develop training programs utilizing computer-based
and other innovative learning technologies;
(D) projects that promote the use of distance learning,
enabling students to take courses through the use of media
technology such as videos, teleconferencing computers, and the
Internet;
(E) projects that assist in providing comprehensive services
to increase the employment rates of out-of-school youth residing
in targeted high poverty areas within empowerment zones and
enterprise communities;
(F) the establishment of partnerships with national
organizations with special expertise in developing, organizing,
and administering employment and training services, for
individuals with disabilities, at the national, State, and local
levels;
(G) projects to assist public housing authorities that
provide, to public housing residents, job training programs that
demonstrate success in upgrading the job skills and promoting
employment of the residents; and
(H) projects that assist local areas to develop and
implement local self-sufficiency standards to evaluate the
degree to which participants in programs under this chapter are
achieving self-sufficiency.
(2) Limitations
(A) Competitive awards
Grants or contracts awarded for carrying out demonstration
and pilot projects under this subsection shall be awarded in
accordance with generally applicable Federal requirements.
(B) Eligible entities
Grants or contracts may be awarded under this subsection
only to--
(i) entities with recognized expertise in--
(I) conducting national demonstration projects;
(II) utilizing state-of-the-art demonstration
methods; or
(III) conducting evaluations of workforce investment
projects; or
(ii) State and local entities with expertise in
operating or overseeing workforce investment programs.
(C) Time limits
The Secretary shall establish appropriate time limits for
carrying out demonstration and pilot projects under this
subsection.
(c) Multiservice projects, research projects, and multistate projects
(1) Multiservice projects
Under a plan published under subsection (a) of this section, the
Secretary shall, through grants or contracts, carry out multiservice
projects--
(A) that will test an array of approaches to the provision
of employment and training services to a variety of targeted
populations;
(B) in which the entity carrying out the project, in
conjunction with employers, organized labor, and other groups
such as the disability community, will design, develop, and test
various training approaches in order to determine effective
practices; and
(C) that will assist in the development and replication of
effective service delivery strategies for targeted populations
for the national employment and training system as a whole.
(2) Research projects
(A) In general
Under a plan published under subsection (a) of this section,
the Secretary shall, through grants or contracts, carry out
research projects that will contribute to the solution of
employment and training problems in the United States.
(B) Formula improvement study and report
(i) Study
The Secretary shall conduct a 2-year study concerning
improvements in the formulas described in section
2862(b)(1)(B) of this title and paragraphs (2)(A) and (3) of
section 2863(b) of this title (regarding distributing funds
under subchapter II of this chapter to States and local
areas for adult employment and training activities). In
conducting the study, the Secretary shall examine means of
improving the formulas by--
(I) developing formulas based on statistically
reliable data;
(II) developing formulas that are consistent with
the goals and objectives of this chapter; and
(III) developing formulas based on organizational
and financial stability of State boards and local
boards.
(ii) Report
The Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a
report containing the results of the study, including
recommendations for improved formulas.
(3) Multistate projects
(A) In general
(i) Authority
Under a plan published under subsection (a) of this
section, the Secretary may, through grants or contracts,
carry out multistate projects that require demonstrated
expertise that is available at the national level to
effectively disseminate best practices and models for
implementing employment and training services, address the
specialized employment and training needs of particular
service populations, or address industry-wide skill
shortages.
(ii) Design of grants
Grants or contracts awarded under this subsection shall
be designed to obtain information relating to the provision
of services under different economic conditions or to
various demographic groups in order to provide guidance at
the national and State levels about how best to administer
specific employment and training services.
(4) Limitations
(A) Competitive awards
Grants or contracts awarded for carrying out projects under
this subsection in amounts that exceed $100,000 shall be awarded
only on a competitive basis, except that a noncompetitive award
may be made in the case of a project that is funded jointly with
other public or private sector entities that provide a
substantial portion of assistance under the grant or contract
for the project.
(B) Time limits
A grant or contract shall not be awarded under this
subsection to the same organization for more than 3 consecutive
years unless such grant or contract is competitively reevaluated
within such period.
(C) Peer review
(i) In general
The Secretary shall utilize a peer review process--
(I) to review and evaluate all applications for
grants in amounts that exceed $500,000 that are
submitted under this section; and
(II) to review and designate exemplary and promising
programs under this section.
(ii) Availability of funds
The Secretary is authorized to use funds provided under
this section to carry out peer review activities under this
subparagraph.
(D) Priority
In awarding grants or contracts under this subsection,
priority shall be provided to entities with nationally
recognized expertise in the methods, techniques, and knowledge
of workforce investment activities and shall include appropriate
time limits, established by the Secretary, for the duration of
such projects.
(d) Dislocated worker projects
Of the amount made available pursuant to section 2862(a)(2)(A) of
this title for any program year, the Secretary shall use not more than
10 percent of such amount to carry out demonstration and pilot projects,
multiservice projects, and multistate projects, relating to the
employment and training needs of dislocated workers. Of the requirements
of this section, such projects shall be subject only to the provisions
relating to review and evaluation of applications under subsection
(c)(4)(C) of this section. Such projects may include demonstration and
pilot projects relating to promoting self-employment, promoting job
creation, averting dislocations, assisting dislocated farmers, assisting
dislocated fishermen, and promoting public works. Such projects shall be
administered through the dislocated worker office described in section
2918(b) of this title.
(Pub. L. 105-220, title I, Sec. 171, Aug. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1031; Pub.
L. 105-277, div. A, Sec. 101(f) [title VIII, Sec. 401(11)], Oct. 21,
1998, 112 Stat. 2681-337, 2681-411.)
Amendments
1998--Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 105-277, which directed the
amendment of subsec. (b)(2) of this section by substituting ``in
accordance with generally applicable Federal requirements.'' for ``
`only on a competitive' and all that follows through the period'', was
executed to subsec. (b)(2)(A) by making the substitution for ``only on a
competitive basis, except that a noncompetitive award may be made in the
case of a project that is funded jointly with other public or private
sector entities that provide a portion of the funding for the
project.'', to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Demonstration Programs and Projects To Provide Technical Skills Training
for Workers
Pub. L. 105-277, div. C, title IV, Sec. 414(c), Oct. 21, 1998, 112
Stat. 2681-653, as amended, formerly set out as a note under this
section, was transferred and is classified to section 2916a of this
title.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 2862, 2916a, 2917, 2919,
2939 of this title.
