Program purpose awardactivities to be performedprimarily community service employment activities, where participants work part-time at a community service location (not for profit) for minimum wage

The Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources received a $1,067,257 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP, CFDA 17.235) effective July 10, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The grant funds part-time community service employment opportunities and supportive services for low-income adults aged 55 and older with household incomes at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level who are not job-ready. Participants work minimum-wage positions at nonprofit and public agencies while receiving on-the-job training, individual employment plans, classroom instruction, and skills training designed to facilitate transition into unsubsidized employment.

Core deliverables include aggregate community service employment hours, placement rates in unsubsidized employment at six and twelve months post-exit, median earnings outcomes for employed participants, and demonstrated effectiveness in serving employers, host agencies, and participants. The awardee may sub-grant funds to other local agencies and nonprofit organizations to expand service delivery. Performance accountability requirements align with Section 513(b) of the Older Americans Act and established federal performance measures, with grantees required to allocate at least 75 percent of federal funds to participant wages and benefits and maintain administrative costs at or below 13.5 percent.

This work experience prepares them for unsubsidized employment while receiving services in the program or after they have completed the program. Participants also receive support services, on-the-job-training, individual employment plans, and can receive classroom and skills training.deliverables expected outcomescsep grant recipients must meet their core measures of performance which refers to hours (in the aggregate) of community service employment the percentage of project participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the project the percentage of project participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the project the median earnings of project participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the project indicators of effectiveness in serving employers, host agencies, and project participants the number of eligible individuals served and most-in-need.intended beneficiary(IES)adults age 55 and over with income at or below 125% of poverty level and not job ready.subrecipient activitiesyes, grant recipients can sub to other local agencies and non-profit organizations.