Youth Opportunity Grants (17.263)

 

Program

17.263 Youth Opportunity Grants

 

Federal Agency

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

 

Authorization

Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Title I, Part B, Section 169, Public Law 105-220, 20 U.S.C. 9201.

 

Program Number

17.263

 

Last Known Status

Deleted 05/01/2006 (Budget authority expired effective 6/30/04)

 

Objectives

To increase the long-term employment of youth who livein empowerment zones, enterprise communities, and high poverty areas. Youth Opportunity Grants concentrate extensive resources in high- poverty areas in order to bring about community-wide impact on: Employment rates, high school completion rates, and college enrollment rates.

 

Types of Assistance

Project Grants.

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

Title I, Sections 169 and 129 of WIA authorize the use of Youth Opportunity Grant funds to provide eligible youth seeking assistance in achieving academic and employment success, comprehensive activities, which will include a variety of options for improving educational and skill competencies and provide effective connections to employers; ongoing mentoring opportunities; training opportunities; continued support services for eligible youth; incentives for recognition and achievement to eligible youth; and youth development opportunities in activities related to leadership, development, decision making, citizenship, community service, and recreation. The Act also authorizes the use of funds for intensive placement services and follow up services for not less than 24 months after the completion of participation in the other. The restrictions described in Section 181 of the Workforce Investment Act and in 20 CFR 667.260 through 667.268 of the WIA regulations apply to the use of these grant funds.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Under Title I, Sections 169 of WIA, a local workforce investment board or entity is eligible to receive a grant. An eligible local board shall serve a community that: (1) Has been designated as an empowerment zone or enterprise community; (2) is a State without a zone and has been designated as a high poverty area by the Governor; or (3) is one of two areas in a State that (a) have been designated by the Governor as areas for which a local board may apply for a grant and (b) meet the poverty rate criteria set forth in subsections (a)(4), (b), and (d) of Section 1392 of the Internal Revenue code of 1986. An eligible entity shall (1) be a recipient of financial assistance under section 166 of WIA; and (2) serve a community that (a) meets the poverty rate criteria set forth in subsections (a)(4), (b), and (d) of Section 1392 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and (b) is located on an Indian reservation or serves Oklahoma Indians or Alaska Native villages or Native groups.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Youth eligible to be served by the grant must be 14 to 21 years of age; reside in the target area; be legal U.S. residents; and males age 18 and above must be registered as required under the Selective Service Act. Youth residing in the target community are eligible to be served by these grants regardless of family income.

Credentials/Documentation

None.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

The U.S. Department of Labor hosted a series of five Technical Assistance Conferences to assist potential Youth Opportunity Grant applicants in developing quality grant proposals. These one-day sessions will provide information clearly explaining the Youth Opportunity Grants' application process and requirements. Conference dates and locations were as follows: June 15, 1999 -- Washington, D.C.; June 16, 1999 -- Chicago, IL; June 23, 1999 - - Denver, CO; June 24, 1999 -- Los Angeles, CA; June 29, 1999 -- Atlanta,GA. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

A Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) for the Youth Opportunity Grant, Billing Code: 4510-30, was issued June 2, 1999. The closing date for receipt of applications is September 30, 1999, by 4:00 p.m. eastern standard time. Applications were to be mailed or hand-delivered to: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal Assistance, Attention: Yvonne Harrell, Reference: SGA/DFA 99-015, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4203, Washington, DC 20210.

Award Procedure

The award procedure for this competitive grant competition is outlined in Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA), Billing Code: 4510-30. The SGA may be viewed at http://www.wdsc.org/sga/99grants.htm.

Deadlines

The closing date for receipt of applications was September 30, 1999, by 4:00 p.m. eastern standard time.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

Contact Headquarters Office listed below to obtain information on appeal procedures.

Renewals

None.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

There are no matching requirements for the Youth Opportunity Grant program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

FY 03 represents the last year of funding for the grants. Initially, after the first year of funding, Youth Opportunity Grant recipients were to receive up to four additional option years of funding depending on availability of funds and satisfactory progress. If the grants were extended for additional years, DOL expected the second-year funds would equal the initial year grant award, that the third and fourth year would be 75 percent of the initial grant award, and that the fifth year would be 50 percent of the initial grant award. FY 03 funding represents 17 percent of the initial grant awards.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Reporting requirements as specified by the Secretary in accordance with Federal Register 20 CFR 667.300, WIA; Final Rules dated August 11, 2000.

Audits

Audits of the Workforce Investment Areas will be conducted in accordance with Federal Register 20 CFR 667.200, WIA; Final Rules dated August 11, 2000.

Records

Grant recipients are required to maintain records in accordance with Federal Register 29 CFR 95 and 97, WIA; Final Rules dated August 11, 2000.

 

Program Accomplishments

PY 01-58,000 youth served; PY 02-53,000 youth can be served; PY 03-maintain current service levels and continue sustainability efforts for the program once federal funding ceases after fiscal year 2003, which represents the last year of funding for these grants.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

16-0174-0-1-504.

Obligations

Program operates on a Program Year (PY) beginning July and ending June 30. (Youth Opportunity Grants) PY 01 $250,000,000; PY 02 est $225,000,000; PY 03 est $44,500,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The Youth Opportunity Grants were awarded in the spring of 2000 with first year funding levels ranging up to $11 million for the largest communities.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

The restrictions described at Section 181 of the Workforce Investment Act and at 20 CFR 667.260 through 667.268 of the WIA regulations apply to the use of these grant funds.

 

Related Programs

None.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

David Lah, Office of Youth Opportunities, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., N-4459, Washington, DC 20210. Contact: 202-693-3604.

Web Site Address

http://www.doleta.gov/youth_services/opportunities.asp

 

Examples of Funded Projects

None.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not applicable.