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.Apply for FOA WB 20 01
- 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).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the WANTO Technical Assistance Grant Program?
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). It is 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.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The program focuses on strengthening systems that help women enter and succeed in higher-skill, higher-wage career pathways. Rather than paying for large-scale direct training alone, WANTO centers on providing technical assistance to employers and labor unions to make pathways into nontraditional and apprenticeable careers more welcoming, effective, and sustainable for women.
Which federal agency is offering the WANTO grant?
This is a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA) discretionary grant opportunity.
What kind of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
Is this a discretionary or formula grant?
The opportunity category is discretionary.
What is the program centered on: direct training or technical assistance?
The program is centered on technical assistance to employers and labor unions. While activities may support the development and enhancement of training pathways, the stated emphasis is not on funding large-scale direct training alone.
What are the three main technical assistance approaches supported by WANTO?
The technical assistance supported by WANTO is organized around three approaches:
- Helping employers and unions develop, establish, expand, or enhance pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities (including Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs, other apprenticeship models), as well as other nontraditional skills training programs that prepare women for nontraditional and apprenticeable fields.
- Providing ongoing orientations and practical resources for employers, unions, and workers to create a successful work and training environment for women, including attention to workplace and program culture and conditions that influence safety, respect, and success.
- Strengthening retention through peer and community supports, such as support groups, networks, and supportive services referenced in the solicitation, to help women persist in training and remain on the job once placed.
What types of apprenticeship programs can be supported?
The opportunity notes support for Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs, and other apprenticeship models, along with pre-apprenticeship opportunities and other nontraditional skills training programs aligned with the program intent.
What kinds of activities can the technical assistance include for apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship development?
Examples described 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.
What does "creating a successful work and training environment" mean in this program?
Based on the description provided, this refers to orientations and practical resources aimed at improving workplace and program culture, expectations, and day-to-day conditions that affect whether women feel safe, respected, and able to succeed in demanding training programs or male-dominated workplaces.
How does WANTO address retention of women in these occupations?
WANTO supports retention through peer and community supports. Applicants can propose establishing support groups, facilitating networks, and providing supportive services referenced in the solicitation to address real-world barriers that can derail persistence in training or on the job.
Who are the primary partners that receive technical assistance under WANTO?
The program is described as providing technical assistance to employers and labor unions so they can build stronger pathways for women into higher-skill, higher-wage careers.
Who is the intended beneficiary population?
The intended beneficiaries are women seeking to enter, persist, and succeed in apprenticeable occupations and other nontraditional occupations where women have been historically underrepresented or concentrated in lower-wage roles.
Which industries can applicants target?
Applicants may target women across industries where underrepresentation is common. The opportunity explicitly references advanced manufacturing, construction, energy, health care, information technology, finance, and transportation, and also allows proposals in other sectors consistent with the intent of expanding women’s access to nontraditional or apprenticeable career tracks.
Does the opportunity allow work in sectors beyond those listed?
Yes. While several fields are explicitly named, the description indicates room for proposals in other sectors that meet the program’s intent.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $750,000.
How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity anticipates 11 awards.
What is the FOA and CFDA identifier for this funding opportunity?
The solicitation is identified as FOA WB 20 01, and the CFDA number provided is 17.701.
When was the announcement created?
The announcement was created on July 2, 2020.
What was the original application closing date and time?
The original application closing date was August 3, 2020, and applications were required by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is indicated as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement’s eligibility section. The information provided here does not list the specific eligible entity types.
Where can applicants find the detailed eligibility requirements?
The description notes that additional clarification is referenced in the full announcement’s eligibility section.
Does this program focus only on recruitment, or also on preparation and retention?
It is designed to increase recruitment, preparation, and retention. The technical assistance approaches described include strengthening entry pathways and readiness supports, improving workplace and program environments, and building peer/community supports to improve persistence and job retention.
Is the program limited to Registered Apprenticeship only?
No. The description includes Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs, other apprenticeship models, and other nontraditional skills training programs that prepare women for apprenticeable and nontraditional fields.
What is the overall goal of WANTO-funded technical assistance?
The overall goal is to equip employers and unions with tools and guidance to remove barriers, improve participation and outcomes for women, and create stronger systems around women’s entry and success in sectors with persistent gender disparities.
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