WASHINGTON, D.C. – The application deadline for a labor-management grant from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) has been extended to June 30, 2016 to accommodate the late expressions of interest among many labor-management parties that still wish to apply.

The FMCS grants program offers labor-management applicants the opportunity to launch an innovative program with FMCS seed money. With new challenges of the 21st century workplace testing the bonds of traditional labor-management partnerships, FMCS is looking for proposals that address the transitioning workplace, hiring and retaining new generations of workers, and rapidly advancing technology-based work structures.

FMCS Director Allison Beck has explained the special emphasis on such proposals this year: “Dramatic shifts in labor market trends, combined with significant labor-management reform activity occurring across many industries and at the city, state, and regional level, require broad, creative and collaborative approaches to workplace problems.”

The new deadline for applications offers would-be applicants an additional month to file. FMCS grants will be awarded in amounts from $50,000 to $400,000, which is a departure from the previous funding cap of $125,000 for geographic or industry-wide committees.

Parties with well-qualified proposals should not assume that there will be a significantly larger funding pool next year! Any future increase in grant funding is entirely dependent on the FY 2017 Congressional appropriations process.

Detailed information and application training videos are available at this link. For additional information, contact the FMCS Grants Office at 202-606-8181.