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 an $8,991,711 cooperative agreement to the Maine Department of Labor under the Unemployment Insurance (CFDA 17.225) federal grant program. The purpose of this award is to support community-based organizations in providing outreach, training, and service delivery to help workers apply for and, if eligible, receive unemployment insurance benefits and related services. Specifically, subrecipients will conduct outreach, training, and service delivery to workers to assist them in navigating the unemployment application and benefits determination process. The expected outcomes of this June 15, 2022 to June 14, 2025 award are to increase access to unemployment benefits for underserved communities and support subsequent reattachment to the workforce. Results will inform future grant opportunities to address barriers to benefit access.

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.