Trade Adjustment Assistance for Communities: The Law and Its Implementation

Eugene Boyd
Analyst in Federalism and Economic Development Policy

Cassandria Dortch
Analyst in Education Policy

The Trade Adjustment Assistance for Communities (CTAA) grant program was created with the  passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, P.L. 111-5. Included  among the subtitles of Division B of ARRA, was the Trade and Globalization Adjustment  Assistance Act (TGAAA) of 2009. The CTAA program, as authorized by ARRA, comprises four  subchapters:

• Subchapter A—Trade Adjustment Assistance to Communities (CTAA) directs the  EDA to provide technical assistance and to award strategic planning and  implementation grants to eligible trade-impacted communities.

• Subchapter B—Community Colleges and Career Training (CCCT) creates a  competitive grant program administered by the Department of Labor which is  intended to strengthen the role of community colleges in filling the education and  skills gap of workers in trade impacted communities.

• Subchapter C—Industry or Sector Partnership Grants Program for Communities  Impacted by Trade (ISG) creates a grant program intended to encourage the  creation of public private partnerships that develop a skilled workforce.

• Subchapter D—General Provisions includes language prohibiting workers  receiving trade adjustment assistance from being disqualified from receiving  assistance under activities funded by the CTAA program.

The Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009, P.L. 111-32, included a $40 million appropriation  that funded both Community Trade Adjustment Assistance and Trade Adjustment Assistance for  Firms. For FY2010, the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2010, P.L. 111-117, included an  appropriation of $15.8 million to be shared between the trade adjustment assistance programs for  communities and firms. In addition, on March 30, 2010, the President signed the Health Care and  Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, P.L. 111-152, which included $500 million in funding for  each of the fiscal years FY2011 through FY2014 for Subchapter B, Community Colleges and  Career Training Grants.

On January 21, 2011, the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Employment and Training  Administration (ETA) published in the Federal Register a notice of solicitation for grant  applications (SGA) for the TAA Community College and Career Training Grant (CCCT)  Program. The notice of availability of funds and solicitation for grant applications set April 21,  2011, as the closing date for the receipt of applications.

On August 18, 2009, the Department of Commerce’s (DOC) Economic Development  Administration (EDA) published in the Federal Register final rules and regulations governing the  CTAA program. The regulations outlined the responsibilities of EDA in administering the  program, including determining a community’s eligibility for CTAA grants, providing technical  assistance to impacted communities, and evaluating grant applications. On January 11, 2010,  EDA published in the Federal Register a notice soliciting applications for CTAA grants.  Concurrently, it published the full announcement and application for assistance at  http://www.grants.gov and established April 20, 2010, as the deadline for applications. Between  August 3, 2010, and September 20, 2010, DOC announced the awarding of $36.768 million in  CTAA grant funds to 36 grant recipients.


Date of Report: May 2, 2011
Number of Pages: 20
Order Number: R40863
Price: $29.95

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