Formula Grant 25A55WP000164

The Virgin Islands Department of Labor received a $1,315,357 Formula Grant from the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration under the Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities program (CFDA 17.207), effective July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. This award supports universal access employment services designed to connect job seekers with employment opportunities and assist employers in identifying qualified candidates. The program delivers job search assistance, career counseling, skills assessments, labor market information dissemination, and job referral services to all individuals seeking employment, with priority extended to veterans and other covered populations. Services to employers include recruitment support, applicant matching, and assistance with hard-to-fill positions.

The grantee may subaward funds to conduct labor market information research and provide specific services such as career interest assessments, career guidance, job search workshops, and referrals to appropriate employment or training opportunities. The program explicitly excludes direct training services, focusing instead on labor exchange and career guidance to facilitate rapid workforce reentry for job seekers experiencing employment barriers. Formula funds are available for expenditure during the program year and the succeeding two program years, with all expenditures subject to 2 CFR 200 compliance requirements and standard audit procedures.