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 Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry from June 2022 to June 2025 under the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program (CFDA 17.225).

The purpose of this award is to allow community-based organizations to help workers in Pennsylvania apply for and, if eligible, receive UI benefits and related reemployment services. Up to $9 million may be provided through subawards to local non-profits to conduct outreach, training, and application assistance for limited English proficient workers, low-income individuals with limited technology access, and people with intellectual disabilities. Specific subrecipients identified include organizations serving the Cambodian, Chinese, and Hispanic communities in Philadelphia and Central Pennsylvania. The overall goals are to increase UI access in underserved areas and support reattachment to the workforce.

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.