The purpose of these grant funds is to allow community-based organizations to help workers apply for, and if eligible, receive UI benefits and related services and benefits

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration awarded a $9 million cooperative agreement to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development under the Unemployment Insurance (CFDA 17.225) federal grant program. The purpose of the award is to allow community-based organizations to help workers apply for and, if eligible, receive unemployment insurance benefits and related services through outreach, training, and service delivery efforts. Specifically, sub-recipients will conduct outreach, training, and service delivery to workers to help them navigate the application process for unemployment insurance benefits and any related assistance from June 2022 through June 2025. The goal is to increase access to these programs in underserved communities and support subsequent reattachment to the workforce. One $250,000 subaward was provided to Umos, Inc. to conduct worker training. The results of this pilot effort will help inform future grant opportunities at both the state and federal levels.

Activities performed outreach, training, and service delivery to help workers apply for and, if eligible, receive UI benefits and related services and benefits. Deliverables the expected outcomes are to increase access to benefits, particularly in underserved communities, subsequent work attachment, and overall community familiarity and comfort with unemployment compensation. The results of these pilot grants will determine future grant opportunities. Intended beneficiary state workforce agencies, which will benefit from the identification of trends and access issues to be addressed, and workers, who have historically encountered barriers to access, including, but not limited to, individuals who lack access due to their race or ethnicity, low wage workers, or individuals with limited english language proficiency. Subrecipient activities outreach, training, and service delivery to workers to help them apply for and, if eligible, receive UI benefits and related services and benefits.