Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (“WANTO”) Technical Assistance Grant Program | FOA WB 20 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA WB 20 01

The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Technical Assistance Grant Program is a U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration discretionary grant opportunity (FOA WB 20 01; CFDA 17.701) designed to increase the recruitment, preparation, and retention of women in apprenticeable occupations and other nontraditional occupations where women have historically been underrepresented or clustered in lower-wage roles. Rather than paying for large-scale direct training alone, the program is centered on providing technical assistance to employers and labor unions so they can build stronger, more welcoming, and more sustainable pathways for women into higher-skill, higher-wage careers across a wide range of industries.

The technical assistance supported by WANTO is organized around three main approaches. First, grantees can help employers and unions develop, establish, expand, or enhance pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities, including Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs, and other apprenticeship models, as well as other nontraditional skills training programs that prepare women for careers in apprenticeable and nontraditional fields. This can include helping partners design program structures, align training with workplace needs, improve outreach and entry pathways, and strengthen readiness supports that help women successfully begin and progress through training.

Second, the program supports ongoing orientations and practical resources for employers, unions, and workers aimed at creating a successful work and training environment for women in these fields. In practice, this type of assistance often focuses on workplace and program culture, expectations, and day-to-day conditions that influence whether women feel safe, respected, and able to succeed. The goal is to equip organizations with the tools and guidance needed to remove barriers and improve participation and outcomes, not just to open the door.

Third, WANTO funds efforts to strengthen retention through peer and community supports. Applicants can propose setting up support groups, facilitating networks, and providing supportive services (as referenced in the solicitation) that help women stay in training and remain on the job once placed. These supports are meant to address the real-world challenges that can derail persistence in demanding training programs or male-dominated workplaces, and to build a sense of connection, mentorship, and problem-solving capacity among participants.

Applicants are allowed to target women across the full range of industries where underrepresentation is common. The opportunity explicitly notes fields such as advanced manufacturing, construction, energy, health care, information technology, finance, and transportation, while leaving room for proposals in other sectors that meet the intent of expanding women’s access to nontraditional or apprenticeable career tracks. Overall, the program is aimed at creating stronger systems around women’s entry and success by helping employers and unions improve program design, workplace readiness, and retention supports in sectors with persistent gender disparities.

In terms of funding details, the award ceiling listed is $750,000, with an anticipated 11 awards. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity category is discretionary. The announcement was created July 2, 2020, and the original application closing date was August 3, 2020, with applications required by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Eligibility is indicated as “Others,” with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement’s eligibility section.

• The Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration in the opportunity zone benefits sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (“WANTO”) Technical Assistance Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 17.701.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 02, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 03, 2020 The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is August 3, 2020. Applications must be received no later than 40000 p.m. Eastern Time.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 11 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for FOA WB 20 01

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