The Department of Labor announced $125 million in funding for projects that train workers to pursue careers in healthcare. The department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has requested proposals to spend it, due October 5.

The funding is part of $220 million appropriated by ARRA, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to train workers for employment in high-growth and emerging industry sectors. The request for grant applications appeared in the July 22, 2009, issue of the Federal Register.

ETA expects to fund 45 to 65 grants ranging from approximately $2 to $5 million. The period of grant performance will be up to 36 months.

The request for proposals makes special mention of the health information technology field, which it defines as the “juncture of information management, medical practice, and the complex business of healthcare delivery. HIT leverages information management training and resources to improve quality and efficiency standards in the health care industry.”

Changes in the field, it notes, “will require new and updated skill sets for a range of clinical occupations (including nursing and allied health professionals), medical record technicians, coders, health information technicians, and other health information technology professionals…”

To promote quality training, career mobility, and rapid implementation, ETA strongly encourages applicants to use existing curricula and industry-recognized certificates or degrees.

Public entities or private nonprofit entities are eligible, and they must demonstrate that their proposed projects will be implemented by a “robust strategic partnership.” Required partners must include at least one entity from each of the following three categories: the public workforce investment system, public and private employers and industry-related organizations, and the education and training community.