NOFO: Workforce Pathways for Youth Grant Program (US)

Deadline: 25-Apr-22

The Employment and Training Administration is inviting applications for Workforce Pathways for Youth Grants Program that supports national out-of-school time (OST) organizations that serve historically underserved and marginalized youth ages 14 to 21.

These grants will place an emphasis on age-appropriate workforce readiness programming to expand job training and workforce pathways for youth, including soft skill development, career exploration, job readiness and certification, summer jobs, year-round job opportunities, and apprenticeships. Funding will also support partnerships between workforce boards and youth serving organizations.

The purpose of this program is to increase alignment between workforce and OST programs and to expand job training and workforce pathways for opportunity youth.

Goals

This grant program operated by national OST organizations will expand workforce development activities in OST organizations across the country that serve youth during non-school hours. The goals of the grant program are to:

expand age-appropriate workforce readiness programming through national OST organizations and their state or locally-operated affiliate organizations and ultimately scale up these efforts;
promote increased alignment between OST organizations, workforce development programs, and school systems, including alignment with dropout reengagement and recovery programs; and
provide work experiences, occupational skills training, and unsubsidized employment placements to increase opportunities for youth, particularly those at risk of not completing their high school education, to gain the skills needed to be successful in higher education and employment.

Funding Information

They expect to award approximately $10,000,000 to fund approximately 5 grants. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $2,500,000.
The period of performance is 36 months with an anticipated start date of 07/01/2022. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.

Geographic Scope

As discussed below, applicants must identify the geographic scope of the proposed project. The geographic scope is the physical service area in which awarded applicants will serve participants. Applicants may choose one of the following geographic scopes: statewide or multistate scope.

Statewide means serving at least two non-contiguous sites within one state;
Multi-state means serving non-contiguous sites in at least two or more states. Additionally, if an applicant proposes to serve a site that crosses more than one state, for example, Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri, that would be considered a single site in geographic scope and thus must also propose to serve at least one more site.