for higher skill, high-priority occupations 
validated by the industry; 
‘‘(v) ensuring that the State agency, 
including services provided by State merit 
staff authorized under the Wagner-Peyser 
Act program, shall inform recipients of un-
employment insurance and trade adjust-
ment assistance under chapter 2 or 6 of 
title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 
U.S.C. 2271 et seq., 2401 et seq.) of the 
job and training opportunities that may re-
sult from the implementation of this grant; 
‘‘(vi) informing and collaborating with 
organizations such as youth councils, busi-
ness-education partnerships, apprenticeship 
programs, secondary schools, and postsec-
ondary educational institutions, and with 
parents and career counselors, for the pur-
pose of addressing the challenges of con-
necting disadvantaged adults as defined in 
section 132(b)(1)(B)(v) and disadvantaged 
youth as defined in section 127(b) to ca-
reers; 
‘‘(vii) helping companies identify, and 
work together to address, common organi-
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zational and human resource challenges, 
such as— 
‘‘(I) recruiting new workers; 
‘‘(II) 
implementing 
effective 
workplace practices; 
‘‘(III) retaining dislocated and 
incumbent workers; 
‘‘(IV) implementing a high-per-
formance work organization; 
‘‘(V) recruiting and retaining 
women in nontraditional occupations; 
‘‘(VI) adopting new technologies; 
and 
‘‘(VII) fostering experiential and 
contextualized on-the-job learning; 
‘‘(viii) developing and strengthening 
career ladders within and across companies 
(in cooperation with labor organizations if 
the labor organizations represent employ-
ees engaged in similar work in the industry 
cluster), in order to enable dislocated, in-
cumbent and entry-level workers to im-
prove skills and advance to higher-wage 
jobs; 
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‘‘(ix) improving job quality through 
improving wages, benefits, and working 
conditions; 
‘‘(x) helping partner companies in in-
dustry or sector partnerships to attract po-
tential employees from a diverse job seeker 
base, including individuals with barriers to 
employment (such as job seekers who are 
low income, youth, older workers, and indi-
viduals who have completed a term of im-
prisonment), by identifying such barriers 
through analysis of the existing labor mar-
ket and implementing strategies to help 
such workers overcome such barriers; and 
‘‘(xi) 
strengthening 
connections 
among businesses in the targeted industry 
cluster, leading to cooperation beyond 
workforce issues that will improve competi-
tiveness and job quality, such as joint pur-
chasing, market research, or centers for 
technology and innovation. 
‘‘(E) A description of the manner in which 
the eligible entity intends to make sustainable 
progress toward the strategic objectives de-
scribed in subparagraph (D). 
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‘‘(F) Performance measures, including 
quantifiable interim performance, for measuring 
progress toward the strategic objectives. Such 
measures shall consider, at a minimum, the 
benefits provided by the grant activities funded 
under this section for— 
‘‘(i) workers employed in the targeted 
industry cluster, disaggregated by gender 
and race, including— 
‘‘(I) the number of workers re-
ceiving portable industry-recognized 
credentials; 
‘‘(II) the number of workers with 
increased wages, the percentage of 
workers with increased wages, and the 
average wage increase; and 
‘‘(III) for dislocated or non-
incumbent workers, the number of 
workers placed in sector-related jobs; 
and 
‘‘(ii) firms and industries in the tar-
geted industry cluster, including— 
‘‘(I) the creation or updating of 
an industry plan to meet current and 
future workforce demand; 
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‘‘(II) the creation or updating of 
published industry-wide skill stand-
ards or career pathways; 
‘‘(III) the creation or updating of 
portable, industry-recognized creden-
tials, or where there is not such a cre-
dential, the creation or updating of a 
training curriculum that can lead to 
the development of such a credential; 
‘‘(IV) in the case of an eligible 
entity that is an industry or sector 
partnership, the number of firms, and 
the percentage of the local industry, 
participating in the industry or sector 
partnership; and 
‘‘(V) the number of firms, and 
the percentage of the local industry, 
receiving workers or services through 
the grant funded under this section. 
‘‘(G) A timeline for achieving progress to-
ward the strategic objectives. 
‘‘(H) In the case of an eligible entity desir-
ing an implementation grant under this section, 
an assurance that the eligible entity will lever-
age other funding sources, in addition to the 
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amount required for the non-Federal share 
under subsection (d), to provide training or 
supportive services to workers under the grant 
program. Such additional funding sources may 
include— 
‘‘(i) funding under this title used for 
such training and supportive services; 
‘‘(ii) funding under the Adult Edu-
cation and Family Literacy Act of 1998 
(20 U.S.C. 9201 et seq.); 
‘‘(iii) funding under chapter 2 or 6 of 
title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 
U.S.C. 2271 et seq.); 
‘‘(iv) economic development funding; 
‘‘(v) employer contributions to train-
ing initiatives; or 
‘‘(vi) providing employees with em-
ployee release time for such training or 
supportive services. 
‘‘(e) AWARD BASIS.— 
‘‘(1) GEOGRAPHIC
DISTRIBUTION.—The Sec-
retary shall award grants under this section in a 
manner to ensure geographic diversity. 
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‘‘(2) PRIORITIES.—In awarding grants under 
this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligi-
ble entities that— 
‘‘(A) work with employers within a tar-
geted industry cluster to retain and expand em-
ployment in high wage, high growth areas; 
‘‘(B) focus on helping workers move to-
ward economic self-sufficiency and ensuring the 
workers have access to adequate supportive 
services; 
‘‘(C) address the needs of firms with lim-
ited human resources or in-house training ca-
pacity, including small- and medium-sized 
firms; and 
‘‘(D) coordinate with entities carrying out 
State and local workforce investment, economic 
development, and education activities. 
‘‘(f) ACTIVITIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity receiving 
a grant under this section shall carry out the activi-
ties necessary to meet the strategic objectives de-
scribed in the entity’s application in a manner 
that— 
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‘‘(A) 
integrates 
services 
and 
funding 
sources in a way that enhances the effectiveness 
of the activities; and 
‘‘(B) uses grant funds awarded under this 
section efficiently. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—An eligible enti-
ty may retain a portion of a grant awarded under 
this section for a fiscal year to carry out the admin-
istration of this section in an amount not to exceed 
10 percent of the grant amount. 
‘‘(g) EVALUATION AND PROGRESS REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT AND EVALUA-
TION.—Not later than 1 year after receiving a grant 
under this section, and annually thereafter, an eligi-
ble entity shall— 
‘‘(A) report to the Secretary, and to the 
Governor of the State that the eligible entity 
serves, on the activities funded pursuant to a 
grant under this section; and 
‘‘(B) evaluate the progress the eligible enti-
ty has made toward the strategic objectives 
identified in the application under subsection 
(d)(2)(D), and measure the progress using the 
performance measures identified in the applica-
tion under subsection (d)(2)(F). 
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‘‘(2) REPORT TO THE SECRETARY.—An eligible 
entity receiving a grant under this section shall sub-
mit to the Secretary a report containing the results 
of the evaluation described in subparagraph (B) at 
such time and in such manner as the Secretary may 
require. 
‘‘(h) ADMINISTRATION BY THE SECRETARY.— 
‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—The Secretary 
may retain not more than 10 percent of the funds 
appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appro-
priations under subsection (j) for each fiscal year to 
administer this section. 
‘‘(2) 
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
AND
OVER-
SIGHT.—The Secretary shall provide technical assist-
ance and oversight to assist the eligible State and 
local agencies or eligible entities in applying for and 
administering grants awarded under this section. 
The Secretary shall also provide technical assistance 
to eligible entities in the form of conferences and 
through the collection and dissemination of informa-
tion on best practices developed by eligible partner-
ships. The Secretary may award a grant or contract 
to 1 or more national or State organizations to pro-
vide technical assistance to foster the planning, for-
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mation, and implementation of industry cluster part-
nerships. 
‘‘(3) GEOGRAPHIC
EQUALITY.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, grants 
are awarded on a geographically equal basis. 
‘‘(4) PERFORMANCE
MEASURES.—The Sec-
retary shall issue a range of performance measures, 
with quantifiable benchmarks, and methodologies 
that eligible entities may use to evaluate the effec-
tiveness of each type of activity in making progress 
toward the strategic objectives described in sub-
section (d)(2)(D). Such measures shall consider the 
benefits of the industry or sector partnership and its 
activities for workers, firms, industries, and commu-
nities. 
‘‘(5) DISSEMINATION
OF
INFORMATION.—The 
Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) coordinate the annual review of each 
eligible entity receiving a grant under this sec-
tion and produce an overview report that, at a 
minimum, includes— 
‘‘(i) the critical learning of each in-
dustry or sector partnership, such as— 
‘‘(I) the training that was most 
effective; 
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‘‘(II) the human resource chal-
lenges that were most common; 
‘‘(III) how technology is changing 
the targeted industry cluster; and 
‘‘(IV) the changes that may im-
pact the targeted industry cluster over 
the next 5 years; and 
‘‘(ii) a description of what eligible en-
tities serving similar targeted industry 
clusters consider exemplary practices, such 
as— 
‘‘(I) how to work effectively with 
postsecondary educational institutions; 
‘‘(II) the use of internships; 
‘‘(III) coordinating with appren-
ticeships and cooperative education 
programs; 
‘‘(IV) how to work effectively 
with schools providing vocational edu-
cation; 
‘‘(V) how to work effectively with 
adult populations, including— 
‘‘(aa) dislocated workers; 
‘‘(bb) women in nontradi-
tional occupations; and 
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‘‘(cc) individuals with bar-
riers to employment, such as job 
seekers who— 
‘‘(AA) are economically 
disadvantaged; 
‘‘(BB) 
have 
limited 
English proficiency; 
‘‘(CC) require remedial 
education; 
‘‘(DD) are older work-
ers; 
‘‘(EE) are individuals 
who have completed a sen-
tence for a criminal offense; 
and 
‘‘(FF) have other bar-
riers to employment; 
‘‘(VI) employer practices that are 
most effective; 
‘‘(VII) the types of training that 
are most effective; and 
‘‘(VIII) other areas where indus-
try or sector partnerships can assist 
each other; 
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‘‘(B) make resource materials, including all 
reports published and all data collected under 
this section, available on the Internet; and 
‘‘(C) conduct conferences and seminars 
to— 
‘‘(i) disseminate information on best 
practices developed by eligible entities re-
ceiving a grant under this section; and 
‘‘(ii) provide information to the com-
munities of eligible entities. 
‘‘(6) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act and on an annual 
basis, the Secretary shall transmit a report to Con-
gress on the industry or sector partnership grant 
program established by this section. The report shall 
include a description of— 
‘‘(A) the eligible entities receiving funding; 
‘‘(B) the activities carried out by the eligi-
ble entities; 
‘‘(C) how the eligible entities were selected 
to receive funding under this section; and 
‘‘(D) an assessment of the results achieved 
by the grant program including findings from 
the annual reviews described in paragraph 
(4)(A). 
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‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as 
may be necessary for fiscal year 2010 and for each 
succeeding fiscal year. 
‘‘(2) 
AVAILABILITY.—Amounts 
appropriated 
pursuant to the authorization of appropriations 
under paragraph (1) for the fiscal year shall remain 
available until the end of the second fiscal year fol-
lowing the fiscal year in which such amounts were 
first appropriated.’’. 
SEC. 3. FEDERAL AGENCY COORDINATION. 
(a) INTERAGENCY COOPERATION.—The head of each 
Federal department or agency whose funding, regulations, 
or other policies impact workers shall cooperate with the 
Secretary of Labor to— 
(1) maintain up-to-date information on jobs, 
wages, benefits, skills, and careers of workers im-
pacted by the actions of such agency or department; 
(2) develop and implement policies that would 
improve the jobs and careers of workers impacted by 
the actions of such agency or department; and 
(3) report the department or agency’s job cre-
ation and economic development strategies to the 
Secretary. 
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(b) ALIGNMENT.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary and the heads of other Federal 
departments or agencies shall work together to align exist-
ing education and training programs with the dem-
onstrated needs of industry or sector partnerships, as de-
fined in section 174A(b) of the Workforce Investment Act. 
These collaborative efforts shall include the following: 
(1) DEPARTMENT
OF
COMMERCE.—The Sec-
retary of Commerce shall advise the Secretary of 
Labor of the Department of Commerce’s workforce 
and economic development strategies, programs, and 
initiatives. 
(2) JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT.—The Attorney 
General shall— 
(A) align federally funded programs offer-
ing training for inmates with industry clusters 
(as defined in section 174A(b) of the Workforce 
Investment Act) and high-priority occupations, 
and annually review these training programs to 
assure that the training programs prepare indi-
viduals for high-priority occupations; and 
(B) align federally funded reentry pro-
grams to take advantage of information and ca-
reer opportunities provided by industry and sec-
tor partnerships. 
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(3) DEPARTMENT
OF
EDUCATION.—The Sec-
retary of Education shall— 
(A) develop and support career ladders for 
high-priority occupations critical to targeted in-
dustry clusters served by a grant under section 
174A of the Workforce Investment Act; 
(B) develop and support innovative pro-
grams to address literacy (including English as 
a second language) and numeracy short-
comings, especially in those occupations critical 
to such targeted industry clusters; 
(C) develop and support programs and 
strategies to reduce barriers to adult education; 
(D) develop and support career education 
initiatives in middle and high schools; and 
(E) support initiatives to develop industry- 
recognized credentials and new credit-bearing 
programs in public and private postsecondary 
educational institutions, especially in occupa-
tions critical to such targeted industry clusters. 
(4) DEPARTMENT
OF
HEALTH
AND
HUMAN 
SERVICES.—The Secretary of Health and Human 
Services shall— 
(A) develop and support innovative pro-
grams that connect qualified individuals receiv-
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ing assistance under the State temporary assist-
ance for needy families program funded under 
part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) with employment opportuni-
ties in the targeted industry clusters served by 
a grant under section 174A of the Workforce 
Investment Act; 
(B) develop and support strategies to pre-
pare individuals receiving assistance under the 
State temporary assistance for needy families 
programs funded under part A of title IV of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) for 
success in postsecondary education and training 
programs; and 
(C) develop and support career education 
initiatives that provide such individuals with in-
formation to guide the clients’ education and 
training plans. 
Æ 
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