Summary of Federal Project Grant Award

The South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation received a $599,918.90 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration under the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP, CFDA 17.235) for the program year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. As a state grantee receiving 22 percent of total SCSEP appropriations, the award funds part-time community service employment opportunities and supportive services for unemployed, low-income individuals aged 55 and older in South Dakota. The department delivers work-based training through placements at public agencies and nonprofit organizations, where participants work at minimum wage while receiving individualized employment plans, on-the-job training, occupational skills training, and comprehensive support services designed to transition them into unsubsidized employment.

The program's deliverables focus on measurable employment outcomes and service quality, with the state grantee required to meet core performance metrics including aggregate community service employment hours, the percentage of participants in unsubsidized employment at six and twelve months post-exit, median earnings of employed participants, and indicators of effectiveness in serving employers, host agencies, and program participants. At least 75 percent of federal funds must be allocated to participant wages and benefits, with administrative costs capped at 13.5 percent, ensuring that the majority of grant resources directly support eligible older adults in achieving economic self-sufficiency.