HI - youth challenge or starbase (4000 series) or special agreements (3000 series) - opening CA award - FY25

The Hawaii National Guard, through the State of Hawaii Department of Defense, received a $4.83 million Cooperative Agreement award from the Hawaii National Guard effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, under the National Guard ChalleNGe Program (CFDA 12.404). This non-discretionary, congressionally directed program provides military-based training, supervised work experience, and comprehensive life skills development to at-risk youth aged 16-18 who are credit deficient or have discontinued secondary school attendance. The award supports residential education, mentoring, community service opportunities, technical skills training, and assistance in obtaining high school diplomas or equivalency credentials through the Hawaii Air National Guard's Administrative Service Office.

The cooperative agreement follows the standard National Guard ChalleNGe structure, which operates exclusively through state National Guard organizations and typically involves a 75 percent federal to 25 percent state cost-share arrangement. Recipients are required to maintain detailed cost and expenditure records for three years following award closeout and must work through their respective Adjutant General offices to execute the program. The funding supports the delivery of comprehensive youth development services across National Guard facilities in Hawaii, contributing to the broader Department of Defense initiative to improve life skills and employment potential for disadvantaged youth.