The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), passed in February 2009, helped create or preserve jobs across a range of industries and sectors, including health care, construction, and energy efficiency and clean energy. To ensure U.S. workers and businesses have the skills they need to participate in our nation’s economic recovery, Congress included more than $4 billion for job training and employment services under the Act.

This page contains background materials and analysis, developed by National Skills Coalition and our partner organizations, about major workforce and job training elements in the law, as well as links to key federal and state resources and information about emerging best practices.

National Skills Coalition Platform and Overview

Recommendations:

• "Earn and Learn" Job Training Strategies | April 2010
• Enhancing Recovery Act Training Provisions through State WIA Plan Modifications | April 2009
• Conference Recommendations to the Senate | February 2009
• Conference Recommendations to the House | February 2009
• Workforce Funding Letter to Senate Leaders | February 2009
• Recommendations to Obama Administration | December 2008

Workforce and Job Training Provisions Overview:

• American Jobs Act Summary | September 2011
• Jobs Bill Summary | April 2010
• Community College and Career Training Grant Program: Section-by-Section Analysis | April 2010
• Industry or Sector Partnership Grant Program: Section-by-Section Analysis | February 2009
• Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Overview | February 2009
• Trade Adjustment Assistance For Communities Summary | February 2009
• Side-by-Side Comparison Table | March 2009

ARRA Green Emerging Industry Grant Recipients

Current Law

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Agency Materials

Competitive Grants for Green Job Training:

• Training and Employment Notice | Department of Labor, May 15, 2009
• Summary | May 2009

Federal Programs Supporting Adult Education and Literacy Under ARRA | Department of Education, March 2009

Training and Employment Guidance Letter | Department of Labor, March 18, 2009

Training and Employment Guidance Letter | Department of Labor, March 6, 2009

Training and Employment Notice | Department of Labor, March 4, 2009

Implementation Circular | Office of Management & Budget, February 18, 2009

Key Websites:

• Federal Recovery website
• State Recovery websites
• Department of Labor website
• Department of Education website

Other Resources

Watch the latest news coverage on training issues in the economic recovery.

Responding to the Great Recession: How the Recovery Act Boosted Training and Innovation in Three States | CLASP, February 2011

Issue Brief: On-the-Job Training | National Skills Coalition, January 2010

Issue Brief: Job Training is Key to Success of Jobs Bill | National Skills Coalition, December 2009

Bringing Home the Green Recovery: A User’s Guide to the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Green For All and Policy Link, 2009

Overview of the TANF Provisions in the Economic Recovery Act
Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, February 2009

Summary of Key Provisions of the ARRA Aimed at Improving the Lives of Low-Income Americans
CLASP. February 2009

Implementing the Recovery Plan: A Resource Guide for State Legislators and Advocates
Progressive States Network