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 Oregon Employment Department to provide unemployment insurance outreach, training, and application assistance services through June 2025. Under the Unemployment Insurance program (CFDA 17.225), community organizations will help workers in Oregon apply for and receive UI benefits and related reemployment services with a focus on underserved communities. The goals are to increase access to benefits, subsequent reattachment to the workforce, and familiarity with unemployment compensation programs. Results will inform future grant opportunities. Services include outreach, training, and one-on-one assistance to help workers through the application process for UI and other employment benefits if eligible.

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.