Employment Recovery DWG Suggested App May 2026.docx

NATIONAL DISLOCATED WORKER GRANT (DWG)

Employment Recovery Suggested Application Updated May 2026 per TEGL No. 09-24, Change 1

Employment Recovery DWG Suggested Application Instructions This suggested application is designed to simplify the preparation and submission of an Application for Employment Recovery DWG funds to the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOL). The information in this suggested application must be submitted along with other required application materials as described in the programmatic guidance, TEGL No. 09-24, Change 1, in particular Attachment I. If you need more space than this suggested application provides, please attach additional pages as necessary.

Applicants are encouraged to use the Suggested Application to ensure all the information required in an Employment Recovery DWG application is clearly addressed. However, you are not required to use this suggested application and may submit an application in an alternative format, provided that all the required information, as explained below, is included. Please note the Attestations throughout the Suggested Application. For each attestation, applicants must confirm understanding of and compliance with specified requirements.

All applications for funding must include all the documents and information below. If the applicant is awarded a grant, the activities and policies must comply with WIOA statute and regulations (including DWG regulations at 20 CFR part 687), Change 1 to Training and Employment Guidance Letter Number 09-24, Updated National Dislocated Worker Grant Program Guidance and Application Information and Application Process (TEGL No. 09-24, Change 1), grant terms and conditions, and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR parts 200 and 2900).

· SF-424

· SF-424A

· Budget Narrative

· Abstract

· One of either:

· The Suggested Application (provided below), or

· In place of the Suggested Application, you may submit the required documents and information in another format.

Employment Recovery DWG grant recipients seeking additional funding or funding increments for already established grants must contact their Federal Project Officer for guidance.

The table below provides information on how the elements of the Suggested Application are organized and how you should complete the application.

Contents of Employment Recovery DWG Suggested Application

SECTION I. General Application Information Instructions Provide the information requested in each section below.

1. Applicant Information – Provide the information requested below.

a. Applicant Organization Name and Type – Provide the name of the applicant organization, and the type of applicant as required by TEGL No. 09-24, Change 1.

Applicant Organization Name

[Enter applicant organization name in this space.]

Type of Applicant Select the type of applicant from the list of eligible applicants to the right.

☐ State Workforce Agency that Administers WIOA Formula Funds, or outlying area, or a consortium of states or outlying areas ☐ Local WDB or a consortium of WDBs ☐ An entity eligible for funding through the Indian and Native American Program in WIOA Section 166 (c) ☐ An entity determined to be appropriate by the governor of the state or outlying area involved. (If you choose this category, you must attach the information and documentation required by TEGL No. 09-24, Change 1 to demonstrate eligibility for this type of applicant.) Entities determined to be appropriate by the governor of the state or outlying area must attach a signed letter from the Governor, on official letterhead, identifying the organization and indicating why the Governor has determined it appropriate to carry out a DWG project.

☐ An entity that demonstrates to the Secretary of Labor their capability to effectively respond to circumstances related to specific dislocations. (If you choose this category, you must attach the information and documentation required by TEGL No. 09-24, Change 1 to demonstrate eligibility for this type of applicant.)[footnoteRef:2] [2: Entities that aim to demonstrate to the Secretary of Labor their capability to effectively respond to circumstances related to particular dislocations must submit documentation that the they have: 1) capability to effectively respond to circumstances related to particular dislocations; 2) expertise with workforce development or training and addressing the impacts of large-scale dislocation events on affected workers; 3) the geographic or administrative reach to handle large-scale workforce issues; 4) financial and administrative capability to administer a Federal grant; 5) a letter of support for its DWG application from the relevant state workforce agency(ies) and WDBs for all of the geographic area(s) the DWG will serve; 6) the capacity to submit required performance data through ETA’s performance reporting system; and 7) completed the pre-application activities required by 20 CFR 687.140.

b. Primary Project Point of Contact – Please list the individual responsible for day-to-day management and oversight of the Employment Recovery DWG. Note: This individual may differ from the authorized representative for the grant.

2. Qualifying Event – Select the box(es) below to indicate the eligible qualifying event(s) applicable to the application. Provide the emergency declaration information requested.

3. Attestation: Qualifying Event – Select the appropriate boxes below to confirm understanding of and compliance with requirements for each qualifying layoff event.

☐ Mass Layoff or Plant Closure: Documentation or information demonstrating a layoff or plant closure affecting 50 or more within the applicant’s planned service area is included with this application.

☐ Community Impact: Documentation substantiating multiple dislocations occurring over a period of up to 12 months that have significantly increased the number of unemployed individuals in a state, or a regional or local workforce area or areas is included with this application.

☐ Higher-than-Average Demand for Services from Dislocated Members of the Armed Services: Demonstrating higher-than-average demand is included in this application per TEGL No. 09-24 Change 1, Attachment I.* See Section II: Attestations: Project Implementation. (Complete Section II, item 4.)

4. Funding Request – You must provide the total funding requested in the grant, as well as the amount of the total that you estimate will be allocated to providing allowable employment and training activities. The total funding request must reflect the total federal funding request amount listed on the SF-424, line 18a, and the budget (SF-424A) and budget narrative.

5. Attestation: Funding Request Exceeds Published Limitation – Please complete the Attestation below if your funding request exceeds the published limitation amount for an Employment Recovery DWG.

6. Projected Participant Enrollment – Provide the estimated enrollment projections for the grant in the table below.

7. Project Service Area – Provide the service area included within the proposed grant.

8. Description of Early Intervention or Rapid Response Efforts – To ensure that Employment Recovery DWG applications are crafted to meet identified needs, WIOA requires that Rapid Response or other early intervention activities occur prior to an application for an Employment Recovery DWG is submitted. In the box below, provide an overview of those efforts that occurred prior to the submission of your application. Please describe the results of these efforts including any identified career or training needs among the affected employees as part of your determination for your Employment Recovery DWG funding request.

Please note: If your organization is not a state workforce agency or local workforce development board (WDB), you must describe coordination strategies with appropriate local WDBs or with the state workforce agency to ensure coordination with Rapid Response and early intervention activities.

Early Intervention or Rapid Response Efforts In the box below, provide information on the early intervention efforts that were carried out prior to the submission of this application. Please include Rapid Response activities authorized by WIOA section 134(a)(2)(A) funded by Governor’s reserve funds (per WIOA Section 133(a)(2). Note that DWG funds may not pay for Rapid Response activities.

[Enter information on early intervention or Rapid Response activities here.]

9. Project Start Date and Period of Performance – Applicants may request a grant start date that precedes the award of the grant, per TEGL 09-24, Change 1. DWGs are generally awarded for a 36-month period of performance unless the applicant requests a shorter period.

Project Start Date: Select one of the two project start date options below.

☐ Start Date Prior to Date of Award* Date Requested: __/__/____

☐ Date of Award

*If you are requesting a start date prior to the date of award, please provide a brief justification below.

[Enter start date justification here.]

Period of Performance: Check one of the following two options for the length of your grant.

☐ 36 months from Project Start Date

☐ Fewer than 36 months from Project Start Date Requested Period of Performance (in months): _____ months

SECTION II. Project Description Instructions Applicants must submit a Project Description as part of an Employment Recovery DWG application. The Project Description provides the context for the effects of the qualifying event, explains the planned grant activities and timeline, and lays out the anticipated outcomes for grant participants. This Suggested Application provides all the required elements of the Project Description, per TEGL 09-24, Change 1, Attachment I.

1. Project Overview – Applicants must briefly summarize their planned project including the information listed in the box below. If applicable, include any additional information that helps to tell the story of how this grant will operate and support economic and employment recovery in the impacted areas. Include any additional information that helps tell the story of how your grant will operate and support economic and employment recovery in the impacted areas.

Project Overview In the space below, include a brief summary of your Employment Recovery DWG project. The project overview must:

· Provide an overview of the project’s scope and priorities.

· List the project service areas including counties.

· Provide a list of project operators or subrecipients likely under the grant, and a summary of the kinds of activities they will carry out.

· Describe plans to identify, recruit and enroll participants.

· Summarize any allowable activities carried out prior to the award of a grant that will be allocable to the Employment Recovery DWG when awarded.

· Describe the strategies and approaches that will be implemented, including specific types of training, including work-based learning such as On-the-Job Training, career services such as transitional jobs or internships, or other related activities that may be used where appropriate.

· Describe strategies planned or in place to support the goal of enabling individuals to return to or enter high quality employment as a result of project activities; these strategies might include outreach to potential employers, creating partnerships, or prioritizing employment that includes a living wage and benefits, promotion potential, schedule flexibility, or other factors.

[Enter Project Overview information here.]

2. Community Needs Assessment – The Community Needs Assessment provides information on the effects of the qualifying layoff event and its associated impacts on the area to be covered by the grant. It also provides information on the kinds of employment and training needs in the areas covered by the qualifying declaration.

a. Impacts of the Qualifying Event on the Proposed Service Area – Employment Recovery DWGs are designed to help mitigate the economic and employment-related effects following a qualifying layoff event and its associated impacts on the area to be covered by the grant.

In the box below, provide a brief description of the effects qualifying layoff event and its associated impacts on the proposed project service area. This description must address:

· A description of the qualifying event, including dates, duration, or other relevant information

· The secondary or other related layoffs that have or are expected to result from the qualifying layoff event

· Description of the resulting economic impacts of the qualifying event as well as any broader or additional economic effects or challenges including secondary or related layoffs, increases in unemployment, or other factors where applicable, that impact the community or communities to be covered by the proposed project,

· Explain why existing formula and/or other funds are insufficient to meet the employment and training needs created by the qualifying event and other associated layoffs or numbers of eligible dislocated workers, by providing current formula funds, Rapid Response funds (or other funds) available, number of participants generally served through these funds, and the unmet need created by the qualifying event and associated impacts;

· Provide an overview of the broader economic situation, layoff impacts, or other challenges impacting the ability of the grant recipient and any subrecipients to effectively serve eligible dislocated workers in the communities to be included in the project where appropriate to justify the planned participant and funding level request;

· Other associated challenges such as increased unemployment, other major layoff events, or other factors facing the area covered by the grant that may impact the availability of formula dislocated worker funds

· Any other information that may support your request for an Employment Recovery DWG

[Enter information on the impacts of qualifying event here.]

b. Employment and Training Priorities – Employment Recovery DWG projects provide employment and training activities to eligible participants. This section of the Suggested Application allows you to describe the economic and other conditions by which your priorities for services delivered to grant participants are designed.

Provide a brief overview of the economic situation within the communities to be included in the project. Include information, such as:

· Unemployment rates, poverty rates, and educational attainment data.

· The workforce needs in the project service area, identifying any barriers to employment.

· Employment opportunities, high growth industries, or priority occupations within the project service area.

· Describe how DWG funds may augment existing business engagement related to the specific DWG qualifying event

[Enter employment and training priority information here.]

c. Description of Employment and Training Activities – Provide a brief description of employment and training strategies to address the priorities described above.

In the box below, please describe:

· The populations to be recruited or prioritized for services including those who have one or more barriers to employment.

· How the specific needs of each participant will be determined.

· The strategies planned or in place to allow participants to obtain unsubsidized, sustainable, and quality employment following the conclusion of grant-supported activities.

· Describe how grant efforts will be integrated into existing workforce and education activities in the state and local area including how grant efforts will leverage these partnerships, infrastructure and funding; and

· How DWG funds will provide opportunities for individuals to return to unsubsidized employment as a result of grant activities.

· The goals for successful placement of participants in employment post-award. These goals might prioritize employment that includes a living wage and benefits, promotion potential, workplace flexibility, or other factors as described by the applicant.

· Any other information that supports the successful implementation of employment and training activities.

[Enter employment and training activities information here.]

3. Attestations: Project Implementation – All grant recipients must comply with WIOA statute and regulations (including DWG regulations at 20 CFR part 687), TEGL 09-24, Change 1, grant award terms and conditions, and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR parts 200 and 2900). Below are some, but not all, of the requirements relevant to project implementation.

a. Policies and Procedures – DWG applicants must have the following policies and procedures in accordance with 20 CFR 687.170(b) and, TEGL No. 09-24, Change 1, and TEGL No. 19-16 to support the allowability of project activities. In the table below, select the appropriate box to confirm understanding of and compliance with specified requirements. If selecting “no,” provide additional information to support the response.

For non-state and non-local workforce applicants without policies, please note in the “Additional Information” field below that policies will be developed for this grant but do not necessarily align with state/local policies.

☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ N/A Subrecipient Monitoring: Policies are in place to ensure subrecipients meet the grant award terms and conditions and applicable regulations.

Additional Information As applicable, provide any additional context regarding policies and procedures activities to the right.

[Enter additional information on policies and procedures here.]

b. Performance and Reporting – Employment Recovery DWG recipients are required to collect and report performance data in accordance with WIOA. Please address the two attestations below to demonstrate your understanding of and ability to comply with performance reporting requirements.

Additional Information As applicable, provide any additional context regarding policies and procedures activities to the right.

[Enter additional information here, as applicable.]

c. One-Stop Partner Requirement – Employment Recovery DWGs are required partners in the one-stop system. You must attest that you are a partner. If you are not a partner, you must provide additional information as to your plans to become a partner.

4. Demonstrating Higher-than-Average Demand for Services from Dislocated Members of the Armed Services: Demonstrating Higher-than-Average Demand for Services from Dislocated Members of the Armed Services Qualifying Event (if applicable):

Additional required information to demonstrate higher-than-average demand for services

If you are applying under the “Higher-than-Average Demand” qualifying event, you must provide additional information to demonstrate that such a qualifying event has occurred. Please see the table below for the information that you must provide and enter your information in the table below or as an attachment to your application. This information is only required if you are applying based on the “higher-than-average demand” qualifying event. Your application must address each of the following elements:

First, you must demonstrate that current demand for services by this population exceeds the average demand for services from this population.

2. Average Demand. An application must show how the applicant calculated the average demand for employment and training services by dislocated members of the Armed Services and dislocated spouses. Average demand should be determined based on data for at least the two years immediately prior to the year that will be used to determine the current demand.

3. Current Demand. The application must then show how the applicant calculated the current demand for employment and training services by dislocated members of the Armed Services and dislocated spouses, using the same methodology or information used to determine the average demand.

4. Current Demand Exceeds the Average. Finally, the application must demonstrate that the current demand for employment and training services (as described in #2 above) for this same population exceeds, or is on target to exceed, the average demand (as described in #1 above).

Second, you must demonstrate that the higher-than-average demand exceeds existing state or local resources for providing the employment and training services. Your application must provide sufficient information to demonstrate that either:

5. the total number of dislocated members of the Armed Services and spouses seeking, or intending to seek, employment and training services in one or more local areas, or statewide, is at least 50; or

6. the total number of dislocated members of the Armed Services and spouses seeking employment and training services is fewer than 50 individuals, but the impact still exceeds existing state or local resources to provide employment and training services.

And third, you must demonstrate that services to dislocated members of the Armed Services and dislocated military spouses will be carried out in partnership with the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs transition assistance programs. To demonstrate this you must provide evidence of existing partnerships, or concrete plans for developing partnerships, with entities that provide transition assistance to veterans and dislocated service members and spouses through the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, or DOL VETS.

[Enter information to demonstrate “higher-than-average demand” in this box or submit an attachment to your application. If you are not using “higher-than-average demand” as your qualifying event, you may skip this section.]

SECTION III. Project Timeline

1. Project Timeline – Your application must include a project timeline that reflects your major proposed goals and objectives over the period of performance of the project (generally 36 months from the grant start date). If you need more space, you may add additional rows as necessary in the table below, or you may submit a complete timeline as an attachment to your application. An example is provided in the row following the heading.

Timeline Example Goal #1:

Fully executed subrecipient agreements within 50 days of grant application submission

Objectives for Goal #1:

1. Create and send potential subrecipients an invitation to partner.

2. Draft subrecipient MOU.

3. Host subrecipient information meeting(s) and solicit verbal commitments from partners.

4. Negotiate agreements as needed

5. Send revised agreements to subrecipient signatories for review and signature.

1. Start Date – Completion Date

2. Start Date – Completion Date

3. Start Date – Completion Date

4. Start Date – Completion Date

5. Start Date – Completion Date

[Enter major goals and objectives information here.]

[Enter timeline information here.]

[Enter major goals and objectives information here.]

[Enter timeline information here.]

[Enter major goals and objectives information here.]

[Enter timeline information here.]

[Enter major goals and objectives information here.]

[Enter timeline information here.]

SECTION IV. Required Attachment

1. Abstract Applicants must include an abstract as an attachment to their application submission. The abstract should not exceed two pages and must include at least the following information:

· A summary of the impacts of the qualifying event on the areas covered by your application

· The project service area, including counties

· An overview of the employment and training activities that are likely to be included in the grant, as well as other allowable activities, as applicable

· A description of the types of participants to be enrolled

· A list of the project operators or subrecipients likely under the grant, and a summary of the kinds of activities they will carry out

· Any deliverables or expected outcomes

Employment Recovery DWG Suggested Application 1