The purpose of the wioa youth grants is to provide resources for local workforce development areas to deliver comprehensive youth services that focus on assisting out-of-school youth and in-school…

The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration awarded a $39,224,930 Project Grant under the WIOA Youth Activities program (CFDA 17.259) to the Florida Department of Commerce. The purpose is to provide resources for local workforce development areas to deliver comprehensive youth services that focus on assisting out-of-school youth and in-school youth, with one or more barriers to employment, to prepare for employment and postsecondary education opportunities, attain educational and/or skills training credentials, and secure employment with career promotional opportunities.

Through this grant, the Florida Department of Commerce subawarded funds to Careersource Florida Inc., a non-profit organization, to provide workforce development services such as operations, incumbent worker training, mediation, technology, communications, and other program implementation. Additional subawards were made to the Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board Inc. and Workforce Development Board of the Treasure Coast, Inc. to deliver services including dislocated worker assistance, rapid response, rural workforce initiatives, veterans programs, and emergency response related to Hurricane Ian.

Activities

Wioa specifies that states provide resources for local workforce development areas to administer youth services. Local workforce development areas deliver comprehensive youth services to out-of-school youth and in-school youth. Services include: tutoring alternative secondary school services paid and unpaid work experiences, which include: summer and year round employment opportunities, pre-apprenticeship programs, internships and job shadowing, and on-the-job training occupational skill training education offered concurrently with workforce preparation and training leadership development opportunities supportive services mentoring follow-up services comprehensive guidance and counseling financial literacy education entrepreneurial skills training services that provide labor market and employment information and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.

Expected outcomes

The wioa youth program outcomes are to provide activities that lead to the attainment of a secondary school diploma or recognized post-secondary credential and or employment.

Intended beneficiaries

Youth, between the ages of 14 and 24, with one or more of the following characteristics: low-income basic skills deficient english language learner justice system involvement homeless runaway in foster care pregnant or parenting individual with a disability or who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program.

Subrecipient activities

Local workforce development agencies deliver comprehensive services to out-of-school and in-school youth to prepare them for postsecondary education and employment. Some of the types of service activities may include but are not limited to: tutoring paid and unpaid work experiences, occupational skill training, follow-up services and comprehensive guidance and counseling, and supportive services.