FOA-ETA-23-07.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR: Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (WORC) Round 5: A Grant Initiative for the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border Regions

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-ETA-23-07

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 17.280

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is 06/13/2023. We must receive applications no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

Submit all applications in response to this solicitation through https://www.grants.gov. For complete application and submission information, including online application instructions, please refer to Section IV.

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

C. OTHER INFORMATION

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

C. SUBMISSION DATE, TIME, PROCESS AND ADDRESS

D. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

E. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

F. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. CRITERIA

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

B. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

C. REPORTING

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. WEB-BASED RESOURCES

B. INDUSTRY COMPETENCY MODELS AND CAREER CLUSTERS

C. WORKFORCEGPS RESOURCES

D. SKILLSCOMMONS RESOURCES

IX. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $44,200,000 in grant funds authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for for the fifth round of Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative grants.

The funding, as described in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. 117-103), will build on previous rounds of WORC grants and fund projects supporting rural communities in aligning workforce development efforts with economic development plans, serving the following areas hard-hit by economic transition and recovering slowly:

The Appalachian region, as defined in 40 U.S.C. 14102(a)(1), The Lower Mississippi Delta (Delta) region, as defined in 7 U.S.C. 2009aa(2), and The Northern Border region, as defined in 40 U.S.C. 15733.

The WORC Initiative provides funding to eligible applicants proposing projects that address the employment and training needs of the local and regional workforce, created in collaboration with community partners and aligned with existing economic and workforce development plans and strategies.

Successful applicants will demonstrate clear strategies to provide needed career, training, and support services to eligible individuals in counties, parishes, or areas currently underserved by other resources, particularly individuals from historically marginalized communities, so they may secure good jobs in stable, high-demand occupations.

Due to unique experiences and circumstances facing communities across the three targeted regions, the WORC Initiative partners—the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC)—will provide technical assistance to prospective applicants in their respective regions, as well as assistance and support to grantees throughout the life of the initiative, including through sharing of promising practices, curricula and resources developed by current or previous grantees. Potential applicants are encouraged to visit www.arc.gov, www.dra.gov, or www.nbrc.gov for more information, including dates and locations for pre-application technical assistance meetings.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

http://www.arc.gov http://www.dra.gov http://www.nbrc.gov

This announcement solicits applications for the WORC Initiative for grants serving the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border regions.

The Biden-Harris Administration has established the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. The U.S.

Department of Labor has designated the WORC Initiative as a Justice40 covered grant program. The White House Council on Environmental Quality developed a Climate and Justice Screening Tool that includes a map of all Census tracts that meet the Justice40 criteria to be deemed disadvantaged. Many communities across the WORC Initiative meet the designation for distressed, and thus align with the principles of Justice40. As appropriate, applicants are encouraged to include distressed communities in their WORC applications.

In alignment with the Justice40 Initiative, the purpose of the WORC Initiative grants is to create economic mobility, address historic inequities for marginalized communities of color, rural areas, and other underserved and underrepresented communities, and produce high-quality employment outcomes for workers who live or work in the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border regions, enabling them to remain and thrive in these communities. The WORC Initiative is designed to address persistent economic distress by aligning community-led economic and workforce development strategies and activities to ensure long-term economic resilience and enable dislocated and other workers in the regions to succeed in current and future job opportunities.

WORC Initiative Core Principles

Successful applications will propose projects that demonstrate clear and consistent strategies, activities, partnerships, and results that are built around the three Core Principles that are central to achieving the purpose of the WORC initiative: Promoting availability of good jobs, prioritizing equity, and driving and sustaining economic transformation.

Successful applicants will submit a proposed project that demonstrates a thorough understanding of, and strategies that are intended to achieve, each of the Core Principles, as described below, within the WORC regions.

Core Principle 1: Promoting Availability of Good Jobs

The first Core Principle of the WORC Initiative is promoting the availability of good jobs, and building, expanding, or improving training programs that provide a skilled workforce to fill those jobs. Generally, a good job helps workers achieve economic stability and mobility, while prioritizing diversity and worker voice.

In 2022, the Departments of Labor and Commerce published the Good Jobs Principles, a framework fostering a shared federal vision of job quality. This framework contains eight https://www.whitehouse.gov/environmentaljustice/justice40/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/news-updates/2022/11/22/biden-harris-administration-launches-version-1-0-of-climate-and-economic-justice-screening-tool-key-step-in-implementing-president-bidens-justice40-initiative/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/news-updates/2022/11/22/biden-harris-administration-launches-version-1-0-of-climate-and-economic-justice-screening-tool-key-step-in-implementing-president-bidens-justice40-initiative/ https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/ https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/ https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles indicators that are designed to form the foundation of an equitable economy that uplifts workers and families and makes businesses more competitive. The indicators of good jobs that inform the WORC Initiative project design are:

Recruitment and Hiring. Employers that prioritize good jobs are intentional in their recruitment and hiring activities. They actively recruit applicants from underserved communities to ensure equal opportunity as set forth under applicable nondiscrimination requirements. Further, applicants are evaluated using skills-based requirements, which may include nontraditional pathways and an emphasis on prior experience. Applicants and employees with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations, as appropriate. When offering good jobs, employers do not require excessive—as defined by industry and occupational standards—educational, credentialing, and experience requirements.

Benefits. Employers that prioritize good jobs provide both full- and part-time workers with family-sustaining benefits. These include, but are not limited to, health insurance, retirement plans, workers’ compensation benefits, equal access to remote work and telework opportunities, and family benefits (such as paid leave and caregiving supports). Further, workers are empowered and encouraged to use those benefits.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). All workers in a good job are respected, empowered, and treated fairly. DEIA is a core value in the workplace, and individuals from underserved populations (i.e., those adversely affected by persistent poverty, discrimination, or inequality) must not face systemic barriers to advancement. Workers in a good job also receive any necessary disability accommodation without difficulties or additional barriers.

Empowerment and Representation. Workers can form and join unions and can engage in protected activity without fear of retaliation. Workers contribute to decisions about their work and organizational direction. Workers are informed of their rights and ways to resolve any issues that may develop on the job.

Job Security and Working Conditions. Workers have a safe, healthy, and accessible workplace, built on input from workers and their representatives. Workers have job security without arbitrary or discriminatory discipline or dismissal. Workers also have adequate hours and predictable schedules. Workers are also free from harassment, discrimination, and retaliation at work, including at a minimum complying with EEO regulations. Finally, workers are properly classified under applicable laws; temporary or contractor labor solutions are minimized.

Organizational Culture. All workers belong, are valued, contribute meaningfully to the organization, and are respected. This may be facilitated via strategies such as regular feedback sessions where workers can communicate with responsive, engaged leadership, through a transparent infrastructure including processes for sharing concerns.

Pay. All workers are paid a stable and predictable living wage, as determined by the local area cost of living, before overtime, tips, and commissions. Workers’ pay is fair, transparent, and equitable (i.e., workers with similar skills and experience are paid the same wage for the same work). Workers’ wages grow commensurate with increased skills and experience.

Skills and Career Advancement. Workers have equitable opportunities and tools to progress to future jobs. Workers have transparent promotion or advancement opportunities. Workers have access to high quality occupational training, such as on-the-job training (OJT), and continued education opportunities.

To successfully address Core Principle 1, an applicant must propose a project that includes a focus on developing or improving access to good jobs or improving working conditions and include information on how the good jobs indicators will inform or support the project design. While employment opportunities supported by WORC grants are not required to include all of these indicators, as a good job can be specific to the context of a geographic region or the needs of an individual worker, applications will be scored on how the applicable indicators are expected to be implemented as part of the project.

Core Principle 2: Prioritizing Equity

The second Core Principle of the WORC Initiative is equity. For WORC Initiative applications, this means that successful applicants will design programs that prioritize efforts to recruit and improve the lives of historically underserved workers adversely affected by persistent poverty, discrimination, or inequality, including, but not limited to, Black, Indigenous, people of color;

LGBTQ+ individuals; women; veterans; individuals with disabilities; individuals without a college degree; individuals with substance use disorder; and justice-impacted individuals.

Core Principle 3: Driving and Sustaining Economic Transformation

The final Core Principle of the WORC Initiative is to ensure that the investment in the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border regions supports long-term, sustainable economic prosperity for individuals, businesses, and communities.

Alignment with Regional Priorities

The WORC Initiative provides funding to eligible applicants proposing projects that address the employment and training needs of the local and regional workforce, created in collaboration with community partners and aligned with existing economic and workforce development plans and strategies.

In addition to the Core Principles listed above, and to ensure that WORC Initiative projects are aligned with existing, community-developed priorities and strategies, successful applicants will clearly describe components, strategies, priorities or other elements of the applicable federal and state strategic plans for the WORC region (Appalachian, Delta, or Northern Border) for which the applicant is applying, with which the proposed project will align, and a description of how those existing plans will support or contribute to the success of the WORC grant. The relevant plans for each of the three regional commissions representing the WORC regions can be found here:

Appalachian Region:

The ARC Federal plan: https://www.arc.gov/strategicplan/ ARC state plans: https://www.arc.gov/appalachian-states/

Delta Region:

The DRA Federal plan and all DRA state plans: https://dra.gov/funding-programs-states-economic-development/strategic-economic-development-plans-by-state/

Norther Border Region:

The NBRC Federal plan: https://www.nbrc.gov/content/strategic-plan NBRC state plans: https://www.nbrc.gov/content/resources

Applications may propose to serve communities in more than one WORC regional area, or more than one state. For applications that serve more than one WORC region, the applicant must demonstrate alignment with the Federal plan for the regional area they have designated the application (see section III.C.1 below for more information). For applications that cover more than one state, applicants must demonstrate alignment with the relevant Federal plan as well as all state plans for the covered states.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

WIOA sec. 169(c), as well as the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. 117-103, Div.

H), authorizes this program.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a grant.

We expect availability of approximately $44.2 million to fund approximately 35 grants. You may apply for a minimum award of $150,000 and a maximum amount of up to $1,500,000. Awards made under this Announcement are subject to the availability of federal funds. If additional funds become available, we reserve the right to use such funds to select additional grantees from applications submitted in response to this Announcement.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is 36 months with an anticipated start date of 10/01/2023. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.

The period of performance end date will be 9/30/2026.

https://www.arc.gov/strategicplan/ https://www.arc.gov/appalachian-states/ https://dra.gov/funding-programs-states-economic-development/strategic-economic-development-plans-by-state/ https://dra.gov/funding-programs-states-economic-development/strategic-economic-development-plans-by-state/ https://www.nbrc.gov/content/strategic-plan https://www.nbrc.gov/content/resources

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

State governments County governments City or township governments State or Local Workforce Development Boards Special district governments Independent school districts State or local education agencies Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Labor unions, worker organizations, or labor-management partnerships Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Hispanic-serving institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) Labor organizations or labor-management partnerships

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

This program does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Including such funds is not one of the application screening criteria and applications that include any form of cost sharing or match will not receive additional consideration during the review process. Instead, the agency considers any resources contributed to the project beyond the funds provided by the agency as leveraged resources. Section IV.B.2 provides more information on leveraged resources.

C. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Screening Criteria

You should use the checklist below as a guide when preparing your application package to ensure that the application has met all of the screening criteria. Note that this checklist is only an aid for applicants and should not be included in the application package. We urge you to use this checklist to ensure that your application contains all required items. If your application does not meet all of the screening criteria, it will not move forward through the merit review process.

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

The deadline submission requirements are met Section IV.C

The applicant eligibility requirements are met. Section III.A

The components of the application are saved in any of the specified formats and are not corrupt. (We will attempt to open the document, but will not take any additional measures in the event of problems with opening.)

Section IV.C.2

The SF-424 includes a federal funds request within the range of $150,000 to $1,500,000, on line 18.a, Estimated

Funding ($), Federal.

Section II.A

SAM Registration is current and reflects Applicant Information identified on SF-424, lines 8.a-d. Section IV.B.1

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance is submitted. Section IV.B.1

SF-424 includes a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Section IV.B.1 SF-424 includes designation of ARC, DRA or NBRC

Region, the primary region under which the application should be considered, on line 15, Descriptive Title of Applicant's Project.

Section IV.B.4.a.

and Section

III.C.1.

SF-424A, Budget Information Form is submitted. Section IV.B.2

Budget Narrative is submitted. Section IV.B.2

Project Narrative is submitted. Section IV.B.3

The applicant must include the federal funding request within the range of $150,000 to $1,500,000, on line 18.a on the SF-424. Amounts included on separate lines or forms will not be considered.

The applicant must include a point of contact for the project (other than the Authorized Representative) on line 8f on the SF-424.

The applicant must also include a "regional designation" on line 15 of the SF-424. This designation identifies the region, either the Appalachian, Delta, or Northern Border, with which the proposed project aligns. If the project area covers counties/parishes or communities located within more than one of these regional areas, the applicant must select just one region—the

Appalachian, Delta, or the Northern Border region—as applications will be reviewed and funded based upon these regional designations.

2. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

We will consider only one application from each organization. If we receive multiple applications from the same organization, we will consider only the most recently received application that met the deadline. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, we will not replace it with an earlier application.

3. Eligible Participants

Applicants must propose a project that enrolls individuals from one or more of the following three targeted categories: new entrants to the workforce, dislocated workers, and/or incumbent workers. The definitions for each category are as follows:

New Entrants to the Workforce: For the purposes of this FOA, the category of “new entrants to the workforce” refers to those who have never worked before or who have been out of the workforce for a long enough time to make it as if they are entering the workforce for the first time. For example, this may include, but is not limited to, the long-term unemployed, formerly incarcerated individuals, caregivers returning to the workforce, and new Americans such as refugees or immigrants. Also eligible, consistent with federal and state wage and employment laws, are youth who are enrolled in high school and are currently eligible or will be eligible to be employed during or within six months after the end of the grant period, or youth who have dropped out of school and are seeking their first full-time job.

Dislocated Workers: For the purposes of this FOA, this term refers to the definition found at Section 3(15) of WIOA. This definition can be found beginning on the bottom of page 7 of the WIOA law at https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr803/BILLS-113hr803enr.pdf. The term generally means someone who was laid off, let go, or lost their job through no fault of their own. Applicants can also work with a local American Job Center or other public workforce development entity that frequently interprets and applies this definition.

Incumbent Workers: For the purposes of this FOA, this term refers to individuals who are employed but need employment and training services to secure full-time employment, advance in their careers, or retain their employment. This could include workers who are “under-employed” based on wages or other factors who would benefit from upgrading their skills to retain employment or advance in their careers, and workers who are currently working part-time.

Within these categories, applicants may serve a wide range of individuals as applicable, including high school or postsecondary students, individuals requiring adult basic and other education programs, individuals with disabilities, veterans, individuals with Limited English Proficiency, individuals who struggle to find work because of their previous incarceration, and individuals with a history of substance dependency or other behavioral health conditions.

Applicants must demonstrate that they will only enroll eligible participants who live or work in https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr803/BILLS-113hr803enr.pdf the Appalachian, Delta, or Northern Border regions. Applicants may train eligible participants for jobs that are located outside of the regions, including remote work, so long as the applicant clearly demonstrates that employment in these occupations will not require participants to relocate outside the region. Such jobs must clearly align with the overall intent of the grant application and the statement of need.

Veterans’ Priority for Participants

38 U.S.C. 4215 requires grantees to provide priority of service to veterans and spouses of certain veterans for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services in any job training program directly funded, in whole or in part, by DOL. The regulations implementing this priority of service are at 20 CFR Part 1010. In circumstances where a grant recipient must choose between two qualified candidates for a service, one of whom is a veteran or eligible spouse, the veterans’ priority of service provisions require that the grant recipient give the veteran or eligible spouse priority of service by first providing him or her that service. To obtain priority of service, a veteran or spouse must meet the program’s eligibility requirements. Grantees must comply with DOL guidance on veterans’ priority. ETA’s Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 10-09 (issued November 10, 2009) provides guidance on implementing priority of service for veterans and eligible spouses in all qualified job training programs funded in whole or in part by DOL. TEGL No. 10-09 is available at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-10-09.

The priority for veterans and eligible spouses is a requirement that applies when enrolling participants into an ETA-funded grant, and applies to all awarded grants. It is not a scoring criterion for this FOA.

4. Allowable Activities Applicants may propose projects that include any of the following types of activities:

a. Training and Other Employment-Related Activities

Workforce training strategies must be designed to enable the grant to achieve the purpose of the WORC Initiative in alignment with an existing strategic plan or economic development priorities. Allowable training approaches include, but are not limited to:

work-based learning such as Registered Apprenticeships, customized training programs, incumbent worker training, on-the-job training, or internships as defined in WIOA, which can be found in ETA’s Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 19-16; or traditional classroom or virtual training.

Other allowable employment-related activities include, but are not limited to:

in-depth participant assessment and evaluation to identify employment barriers and develop individual employment plans;

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-10-09 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-10-09 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-19-16 career planning including using labor market information to help participants select training and careers that lead to family-sustaining wages and benefits, job coaching, and job matching services; and employability skills training.

Training costs must be fully covered under the project (including via leveraged resources where applicable) and may not result in debt (including student loan debt) to the participant. In addition, stipends may be provided to encourage enrollment and retain participation in training or other program activities such as Registered Apprenticeships, paid internships, or other.

Applicants are encouraged to work with a local American Job Center or other workforce system partner who can advise on implementing planned activities in accordance with the requirements of the law.

b. Supportive Services for Grant Participants

Supportive services include activities or resources that enable individuals to participate in career and training services or other grant activities, or to gain or retain employment. Grant recipients are encouraged to offer necessary supportive services directly or through partner organizations.

Generally, supportive services are customized to meet the specific needs of an individual to help enable them to participate in or complete a workforce development program. Such supportive services may include, but are not limited to:

assistance with transportation, child or dependent care, or housing;

counseling or other mental health services;

assistance with uniforms or other appropriate work attire and work-related tools, safety equipment, and other items;

assistance with laptops or tablets, books, fees, school supplies, and other necessary items for students enrolled in training, work-based learning, or other elements of the proposed grant project;

payments and fees for employment and training-related applications, tests, and certifications; and workforce strategies addressing substance use disorder such as, but not limited to, recovery coaches, job/career coaches, and health navigator services.

c. Employer Services

Applicants are encouraged to provide services to local employers, particularly small and medium-sized employers, to help them in a wide range of areas including improving the quality of jobs, adopting more competitive wage scales, establishing more predictable work schedules, examining how benefits may be offered, creating opportunities for advancement, advising employers on how to adhere to nondiscrimination laws, and adopting practices that ensure workers know their rights and that incorporate worker voice.

Applicants are also encouraged to provide services to employers that already offer good jobs, including those with family-sustaining wages, benefits, opportunities for advancement, and worker voice, to enhance their economic success, growth, or sustainability. This can most easily be accomplished by coordinating with local business services teams at American Job Centers or other local business and economic development partners. Efforts may focus on individual employers or have an industry-based approach for clusters or sectors, and may include activities such as: providing technical assistance materials to support job quality or ensure compliance with nondiscrimination laws; designing/disseminating tool kits and training for employers to develop standards/processes for substance-use disorder or misuse recovery-friendly workplaces or to implement job accommodations to meet the needs of current or future employees; establishing peer coaching, counseling, and worksite mentoring programs; creating, expanding, or enhancing Registered Apprenticeships, internships, and other work experiences, including subsidies of apprentice and intern wages.

d. Strategic Planning for Economic Transformation

WORC Initiative success may be increased through alignment of community-focused workforce and economic development plans and strategies, and such activities are allowed under these grants. Strategic planning activities designed to promote and support economic transformation help ensure that project outcomes will lead to sustainable employment opportunities in the communities covered by the grant.

Strategic planning activities may assess the economic landscape to identify new or growing employment opportunities in high-quality jobs, including those which offer family-sustaining wages, benefits, career advancement opportunities and worker voice. Strategic planning processes also involve convening partnerships and assets from across the economic and social spectrum of the community(ies) covered by a proposed project, and may include the workforce investment system, industry, community colleges, labor unions and labor-management partnerships, nonprofit community organizations and other stakeholders. Activities may also support the development of new strategies or updates and expansion of preexisting plans and strategies, or to help create or enhance a vision for a better economic future. Depending on the specific needs, strategic planning might help a community diversify its industries to not be dependent on industries in decline. Ensuring community involvement in strategic planning is a critically important way to create a more inclusive, equitable future for all. WORC grant funds may be an important driver of strategic planning both to support the success of the specific project but also to catalyze long-term, broad-based economic transformation.

Strategic planning activities that WORC applicants may propose include, but are not limited to:

Convening Community Partners and Leaders: Organizing a comprehensive group of leaders and partners representing major economic, workforce, education and other community assets and organizations, and companies, research institutions, investors, philanthropists, and labor unions and other worker organizations, and workers, to ensure that all relevant stakeholders have a voice in the project’s success. Such a group should include WORC grant partners as well as other organizations from the communities involved. To ensure that workers have a voice in the future of the region, impacted workers and organizations representing impacted workers in the grant area should be encouraged and supported to actively participate.

Developing a Vision: Efforts to achieve sustainable, equitable economic transformation are more successful when they feature a community-led approach that develops a shared vision for the future.

Conducting Data Analysis: Good strategic planning requires good information. To ensure that planning approaches are evidence-based, WORC funds may be used to obtain and analyze economic and workforce information, carry out asset mapping, conduct an objective analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and more;

Aligning Education, Economic, and Workforce Development Strategies with Evidence and Opportunities: WORC funds may be used to identify and map the necessary skills and competencies for in-demand, high-quality jobs as well as potential new jobs of the future, working with employers to adjust recruitment and selection processes to increase consideration and inclusion of local talent, and organizing education, workforce development, and economic development to focus on creating these jobs, promoting job quality, and preparing a skilled workforce to ensure the success of the plans; and

Identifying Resources and Sustainability: Developing a financial plan that supports the identification of resources needed to ensure that transformational activities are sustainable beyond the life and scope of the WORC grants.

Applicants may propose to expend no more than $100,000 of a grant award on planning activities that support a broader implementation plan for a WORC grant.

e. Purchasing Equipment and Making Renovations

Capital expenditures, such as the purchase of equipment or capital improvements, are allowable with prior approval from the Grant Officer, provided they directly facilitate or address the employment and training needs of enrolled grant participants as well as dislocated or other workers in the communities served by the proposed project. These expenditures must follow the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements at 2 CFR Part 200, and the DOL supplemental requirements at 2 CFR Part 2900. For capital expenditures and equipment, see 2 CFR 200.439. Following a WORC grant award, a grantee must seek and receive written ETA approval in a subsequent modification request for all equipment purchases and renovations. The modification must demonstrate how these purchases and renovations will assist in the successful employment and training of participants. Award of a grant under this FOA does not constitute prior written approval of equipment purchase or renovations mentioned in the initial application.

Minor alterations, renovations, or rearrangements of buildings, facilities, or equipment, if specific to the project, are also allowable with prior written approval from the Grant Officer, provided they facilitate or address the employment and training needs of individuals enrolled in the grant as well as dislocated workers or other workers. Minor alterations, renovations, or rearrangements may include the activities and associated costs of relocating, modifying, replacing, or adding items (e.g. switches and outlets) related to internal environments (e.g.

temperature, humidity, ventilation, and acoustics), and installation of fixed equipment (including fume hoods and audio/visual equipment). This could also include structural improvements or upgrades, including the relocation, modification, retrofitting, or enhancement of interior load-bearing walls or interior floors to accommodate training courses or equipment. This could also include implementing and/or enhancing the information technology infrastructure used to provide education and training and related activities.

Allowable costs also include leasing space that is used for the grant participant education, training, and related activities, as well as the altering or renovating of such facilities (in accordance with the Federal Cost Principles at 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E and the DOL supplemental requirements at 2 CFR Part 2900, Subpart E). Allowable renovations include those related to federal architectural accessibility obligations requiring facilities to be readily accessible to, and usable by, qualified individuals with disabilities.

Following grant award, grantees must submit a subsequent grant modification request to obtain written Grant Officer approval before acquiring equipment or proceeding with proposed capital expenditures, renovation, or alteration of facilities. The Grant Officer must determine that all proposed equipment, capital improvements, and/or alterations and renovation are:

1. allocable, necessary, and reasonable;

2. tied to specific grant-related deliverables and outcomes outlined in the grantee’s statement of work (SOW), including capacity-building and/or training outcomes;

3. consistent with the FOA; and

4. aligned with equipment requirements as outlined in 2 CFR Part 200. Applicants proposing in their SOW to spend grant funds on capital improvements and/or alterations and renovations must demonstrate how these expenditures will support the expansion and/or improvement of their project’s education and training programs addressing the needs of dislocated workers and other needs of workers in the Appalachian, Delta and Northern Border regions.

Prohibited activities with regard to capital expenditures include new construction or property acquisition.

Grantees must complete all activities related to capital expenditures and other alterations within the period of performance of the grant.

All WORC grants will be expected to enroll, and submit performance reporting for, at least one participant; applicants may propose to utilize funding sources other than WORC to provide allowable services to grant participants, but in such cases participants must meet the eligibility criteria, and activities must be allowable, under the terms of the FOA. Proposed WORC projects must not exceed 50% of the project budget for allowable equipment purchases and renovations.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

This FOA, found at www.Grants.gov and https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities contains all of the information and links to forms needed to apply for grant funding.

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Applications submitted in response to this FOA must consist of four separate and distinct parts:

1. SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance”;

2. Project Budget, composed of the SF-424A and Budget Narrative;

3. Project Narrative; and

4. Attachments to the Project Narrative.

You must ensure that the funding amount requested is consistent across all parts and sub-parts of the application.

1. SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance”

You must complete the SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance” (available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1).

In the address field, fill out the nine-digit (plus hyphen) zip code. Nine-digit zip codes can be looked up on the USPS website at https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action.

The organization’s legal name on the SF-424 should match its name registered in the System for Award Management at www.sam.gov.

The SF-424 must clearly identify the applicant and must be signed by an individual with authority to enter into a grant agreement. Upon confirmation of an award, the individual signing the SF-424 on behalf of the applicant is considered the Authorized Representative of the applicant. As stated in block 21 of the SF-424 form, the signature of the Authorized Representative on the SF-424 certifies that the organization is in compliance with the Assurances and Certifications form SF-424B (available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1). You do not need to submit the SF-424B with the application.

In addition, the applicant’s Authorized Representative’s signature in block 21 of the SF-424 form constitutes assurance by the applicant of compliance with the WIOA 188 rules issued by the Department at 29 CFR 38.25, which includes the following language:

As a condition to the award of financial assistance from the Department of Labor under Title I WIOA, the grant applicant assures that it has the ability to comply fully with the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of the following laws: Section 188 of the WIOA and its implementing regulations at 29 CFR Part 38, which prohibits discrimination against all individuals in the United States on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, transgender status, and gender identity), http://www.Grants.gov https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action http://www.sam.gov https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, disability, political affiliation or belief, and against beneficiaries on the basis of either citizenship or status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or participation in any WIOA Title I— financially assisted program or activity; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the bases of race, color, and national origin; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, which prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities; The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age; and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs.

The grant applicant also assures, that as a recipient of WIOA Title I financial assistance [as defined at 29 CFR 38.4(zz)], it will comply with 29 CFR part 38 and all other regulations implementing the laws listed above. This assurance applies to the grant applicant's operation of the WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity, and to all agreements the grant applicant makes to carry out the WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity. The grant applicant understands that the United States has the right to seek judicial enforcement of this assurance.

Similarly, the applicant's Authorized Representative's signature in block 21 of the SF-424 form constitutes assurance by the applicant of compliance with all WIOA requirements, including the Page 23 of 84 requirement at sec. 181(b)(7) of WIOA that the recipient will not use any of the grant funds to "assist, promote, or deter union organizing."

a. Requirement for Unique Entity Identifier

All applicants for federal grant funding must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and must supply their UEI on the SF-424. The UEI is a 12-character (alpha-numeric) code that uniquely identifies all entities. Any entity registering to do business with the government is required to have one. UEIs are issued by SAM.gov and are a part of an entity's record in the Entity Information section of SAM.gov. If you do not have a UEI, you can get one for free at https://sam.gov.

Grant recipients authorized to make subawards must meet these requirements related to UEI:

Grant recipients must notify potential subawardees that no entity may receive a subaward unless the entity has provided its UEI.

Grant recipients may not make a subaward to an entity unless the entity has provided its UEI.

(See Appendix A to 2 CFR Part 25.)

b. Requirement for Registration with SAM

Applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application. Find instructions for registering with SAM at https://www.sam.gov.

A recipient must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application under consideration. To remain registered in the SAM database after the initial registration, the applicant is required to review and update the registration at least every 12 months from the date of initial registration or subsequently update its information in the SAM database to ensure it is https://sam.gov https://www.sam.gov current, accurate, and complete. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicant is the entity that meets the eligibility criteria and has the legal authority to apply and to receive the award. If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time the Grant Officer is ready to make a federal award, the Grant Officer may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

2. Project Budget You must complete the SF-424A Budget Information Form (available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1). In preparing the Budget Information Form, you must provide a concise narrative explanation to support the budget request, explained in detail below.

a. Budget Narrative The Budget Narrative must provide a description of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A. The Budget Narrative should also include a section describing any leveraged resources provided (as applicable) to support grant activities. Leveraged resources are all resources, both cash and in-kind, in excess of this award. Valuation of leveraged resources follows the same requirements as match. Applicants are encouraged to leverage resources to increase stakeholder investment in the project and broaden the impact of the project itself.

Each category should include the total estimated cost for the period of performance. Use the following guidance for preparing the Budget Narrative.

Personnel: List all staff positions by title (including individuals hired by an employment contract) including the roles and responsibilities. For each position give the annual salary, the percentage of time devoted to the project, and the amount of each position’s salary funded by the grant.

Fringe Benefits: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement, etc.

Travel: For grantee staff only, specify the purpose, number of staff traveling, mileage, per diem, estimated number of in-state and out-of-state trips, and other estimated costs for each type of travel.

Equipment: Identify each item of equipment you expect to purchase that has an estimated acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit (or if your capitalization level is less than $5,000, use your capitalization level) and a useful lifetime of more than one year (see 2 CFR Part

200.1 for the definition of Equipment). List the item, quantity, and the unit cost per item.

The total cost of equipment (including information technology systems) and renovations must not exceed 50 percent of the grant award.

Items with a unit cost of less than $5,000 are supplies, not “equipment.” In general, we do not permit the purchase of equipment during the last funded year of the grant.

Supplies: Identify the cost of supplies (e.g., general office supplies, desk/chairs, laptops/printers, other specialty items) in the detailed budget per category. Except for general office supplies, list the item, quantity, and the unit cost per item. Supplies include all tangible personal property other than “equipment” (see 2 CFR Part 200.1 for the definition of Supplies).

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1

Contractual: Under the Contractual line item, delineate contracts and subawards separately. Contracts are defined according to 2 CFR Part 200.1 as a legal instrument by which a non-federal entity purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a federal award. A subaward, defined by 2 CFR Part 200.1 means an award provided by a pass-through entity to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to carry out part of a federal award received by the pass-through entity. It does not include payments to a contractor or payments to an individual that is a beneficiary of a federal program.

For each proposed contract and subaward, specify the purpose and activities to be provided, and the estimated cost.

Construction: Construction costs are not allowed and this line must be left as zero. Minor alterations to adjust an existing space for grant activities (such as a classroom alteration) may be allowable. We do not consider this as construction and you must show the costs on other appropriate lines such as Contractual.

Other: Provide clear and specific detail, including costs, for each item so that we are able to determine whether the costs are necessary, reasonable, and allocable. List items, such as stipends or supportive services, not covered elsewhere.

Indirect Costs: If you include an amount for indirect costs (through a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or De Minimis) on the SF-424A budget form, then include one of the following:

a) If you have a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), provide an explanation of how the indirect costs are calculated. This explanation should include which portion of each line item, along with the associated costs, are included in your cost allocation base. Also, provide a current version of the NICRA.

or

b) If you intend to claim indirect costs using the 10 percent de minimis rate, please confirm that your organization meets the requirements as described in 2 CFR Part 200.414(f).