Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals (93.593)

Program

93.593 Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Administration For Children And Families

Authorization

as amended, Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Section 112, Public Law 104-193; Family Support Act of 1988, Section 505, Public Law 100-485, 42 U.S.C 1926.

Program Number

93.593

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The purpose of the JOLI program is to create new jobs to be filled by low-income individuals. JOLI grantees create jobs through business plans and the provision of technical and/or financial assistance to private employers in the community. Accordingly, JOLI grantees assist in creating new employment and business opportunities for individuals receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and for other low-income individuals. Funded projects focus on one of three program strategies to create new job and employment opportunities: (1) new business ventures, (2) business expansion, and (3) self-employment/micro-enterprise.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funded projects must: (1) create new employment and/or business opportunities for TANF recipients and other low-income individuals; (2) enter into a cooperative agreement with the local TANF agency involving client referrals to the applicant project and supportive services for clients, and applicants are encouraged to establish a formal partnership with the local Child Support Enforcement (CSE) agency involving referrals of non-custodial parents to the applicant; (3) develop a comprehensive project design that describes: the work program and strategy; the participant training design; supportive services and counseling; technical assistance and financial assistance plan; access to business capital; and, follow-up participant support services; and, (4) include an independent, methodologically sound evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities in crating new jobs and/or business opportunities. Funds awarded under this program cannot be used for 1)new construction, 2) the purchase of real property, 3) fundraising, 4) reimbursement of pre-award costs, 5) any project where the role of the applicant is primarily to serve as a conduit for funds to organizations other than the applicant, or 6) a previously funded grantee to carry out the same project in the same geographic area. A minimum of 20 percent of the funds must be used for the provision of loans or other financial assistance to program participants. Grantee's applicable costs and administrative procedures will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR Part 74.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Only nonprofit organizations (including community development corporations, faith based, charitable, and tribal organizations) that are tax-exempt under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by reason of paragraph (3) or (4) of section 501(c) of such Code are eligible to apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Only recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits and any other individual, whose income level does not exceed 100 percent of the official poverty guidelines, as published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, can be served under this program. Emphasis is placed on serving individuals who are TANF recipients, homeless, unemployed, non-custodial parents, reside in public housing or receive housing assistance.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants must include with the application written evidence of the local TANF agency's willingness to enter a cooperative agreement. Applicants are strongly encouraged to include with the application written evidence of a partnership with the local CSE agency. All non-profit organizations (including community development corporations, faith based, charitable, and tribal organizations) must include with the application written proof of tax-exempt status under 501(c) (3) or (4) of Internal Revenue Code 0f 1986. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. All information and forms required to prepare a grant are published in the Federal Register and www.grants.gov website.

Award Procedure

Official notice of approved grant applications is made through issuance of a Financial Assistance Award. Official notice of an accepted application proposal is made through award of a grant.

Deadlines

Sep 01, 2009 All information and application forms required to prepare a application are at www.grants.gov.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 90 to 120 days. Generally, solicited grants will be acted upon within 90-120 days.

Appeals

Appeals are processed in accordance with HHS regulations in 45 CFR Part 16.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grant awards are approved for up to a 3 year budget and project period. The maximum grant for the full project and budget period is $475,000. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Grant awards are approved for up to a 3 year budget and project period. The maximum grant for the full project and budget period is $475,000.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Semi annual progress and expenditure reports are requireed. Cash reports are not applicable. See above. Expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profit Organizations, Non-Federal entities that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of this part. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in section .215(a), but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and General Accounting Office (GAO).

Records

Financial and other records of the grant are to be kept 3 years after the termination of the grant or until audited, whichever comes first.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: 11 grants were awarded. Fiscal Year 2009: 12 grants were awarded. Fiscal Year 2010: It is anticipated that the same number of grants will be awarded.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $5,288,000; FY 09 est $5,288,000; FY 10 est $5,288,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Twelve grants were awarded in Fiscal Year 2009. Ten to twelve grant awards are anticipated for Fiscal Year 2010.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

The JOLI Program Announcement information is available at: www.grants.gov; and the Poverty Guidelines is available at: http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/poverty/index.shtm1.

Related Programs

93.570 Community Services Block Grant_Discretionary Awards; 93.601 Child Support Enforcement Demonstrations and Special Projects; 93.645 Child Welfare Services_State Grants; 93.647 Social Services Research and Demonstration

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Rafael J. Elizalde Division of Community Discretionary Programs, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20447 Email: rafael.elizalde@acf.hhs.gov Phone: (202) 401-5115

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/index.html

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Specific criteria for selecting proposals for funding are stated in each program announcement.