§ 2503. Technical assistance

• (a) With funds appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary shall make grants to community-based organizations to provide technical assistance to employers and labor unions selected under subsection (b). Such technical assistance may include—
  • (1) developing outreach and orientation sessions to recruit women into the employers’ apprenticeable occupations and nontraditional occupations;
  • (2) developing preapprenticeable occupations or nontraditional skills training to prepare women for apprenticeable occupations or nontraditional occupations;
  • (3) providing ongoing orientations for employers, unions, and workers on creating a successful environment for women in apprenticeable occupations or nontraditional occupations;
  • (4) setting up support groups and facilitating networks for women in nontraditional occupations on or off the job site to improve their retention;
  • (5) setting up a local computerized data base referral system to maintain a current list of tradeswomen who are available for work;
  • (6) serving as a liaison between tradeswomen and employers and tradeswomen and labor unions to address workplace issues related to gender; and
  • (7) conducting exit interviews with tradeswomen to evaluate their on-the-job experience and to assess the effectiveness of the program.
• (b) The Secretary shall select a total of 50 employers or labor unions to receive technical assistance provided with grants made under subsection (a).