Jobs Plus FY 2025 NOFO Overview Webinar PPT slides 8.28.25 (1).pdf

FY2025

Jobs Plus NOFO

Presenters:

❑ Isaac Dozier

❑ Leigh van Rij

Agenda

❑NOFO & Due Date, Award Info

❑Eligible Applicants

❑Program Description - Goals and Objectives

❑Jobs Plus Model

❑Program History - Changes from Previous NOFO FY2025 Jobs Plus NOFO/Application Contents

❑Review and Selection Process Today’s webcast will not go over the basics of Grant Applications

➢ How to register for and use Grants.gov

➢ DUNS/SAM.gov

➢ Section VI. Submission Requirements and Deadlines, provides further information about submission requirements

NOFO & Due Date FY2025 Jobs Plus Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) posted

August 12, 2025.

NOFO provides info on program & applying

➢ Download NOFO/package on Grants.gov (search “Jobs Plus”). NOFO is posted to grants.gov (new simpler search)

❖ Be sure to read Appendix II! Your AMP(s) might be in the list of eligible sites.

❖ Applications are due Monday, October 27, 2025, 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time.

➢ Late applications will not be accepted

Read Section VI. Submission Requirements and Deadlines for further information

Alert! NOFO template/structure has changed for FY25!

Available Funds & Awards

$21.6M is available for FY25 award

▪ Includes $15 million of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 funding and approximately

$6.6 million of remaining FY24 funding

Approximately 12 awards anticipated

December 2025 anticipated awards

Grant Size / Funding Amount

Non-elderly

Households

Maximum Funding

100 - 199 $ 1,600,000

200 - 399 $ 2,300,000

400 - 599 $ 3,000,000

600+ $ 3,700,000

➢ Project sizes and maximum grant amounts are based on the number of non-elderly households in the targeted AMP (see Section I.2.Funding Details).

▪ Review this section closely so to ensure that you are requesting the maximum the project is eligible for.

➢ In calculating grant request, please consider the information in Section II.A.3.Program Specific

Requirements

Jobs Plus FY25 NOFO Eligible Applicants

ID

Eligible Applicants

- Criteria for Eligible Public Housing Projects

For further information on the application eligibility, see Section II.A.2.Restrictions

Eligible Applicants and Eligible Public Housing Projects. Applicants that do not demonstrate compliance with the requirements in Section II.A.2. c., Eligible Applicants - Program Specific Details will not receive further consideration for funding.

➢ Applicants are committing to serve all public housing project(s) and public housing residents covered by the AMP number that the applicant indicates it is targeting in the Jobs Plus application.

PHAs that have already received a Jobs Plus grants may apply for funding under this NOFO; however, AMPs (target sites) previously funded through a prior Jobs Plus grant may not be the target of a fiscal year (FY) 2025 Jobs Plus application.

Federally recognized tribes and tribally designated housing entities are not eligible applicants for this NOFO.

See slide #75 for additional details on Eligibility Criteria

See slide #75 for additional details on Eligibility Criteria

Criteria for Eligible Public Housing Projects -

Size and Unemployment.

Size: Minimum project size of 100 households where at least one resident in each of the households is non-elderly (less than age 65).

Unemployment: At least 40 percent of the households (excluding households consisting only of elderly residents) that report no earned income in PIC.

Appendix II (formerly “Appendix B”): A list of public housing projects (AMPs) that meet the size and unemployment criteria is provided in Appendix II. of this NOFO.

If the PHA is not listed in Appendix II, refer to Section II. A.4.Criteria for Eligible Public Housing

Projects, paragraph 4 Process for request for Review of Eligibility.

For further information on size and unemployment requirements, see FY 25 NOFO, Section II.A.4.b.Size and Unemployment.

Project is already listed on Appendix II;

OR

PHAs with projects not listed on Appendix II

➢ Applicants whose public housing projects (AMPs) are not included in Appendix B can be combined to meet eligibility requirements. Applicants must first submit a Request for Review of Eligibility of their target public housing projects (AMPs) to determine eligibility.

➢ PHAs may propose to combine two or more public housing projects (AMPs). Public housing projects must meet the criteria for eligible projects, subject to these conditions:

Parts of public housing projects (AMPs) cannot be combined. Only entire public housing projects

(AMPs) may be combined.

The combined public housing projects (AMPs) must meet the criteria for size.

The combined public housing projects (AMPs) must meet the criteria for unemployment.

Request for Review of Eligibility

(if not on Appendix II)

See slide #88 for additional details on Appendices I. & II.

JobsPlus@hud.gov

Before submitting application, applicants whose projects are not on Appendix II but who believe a combination of projects will meet eligibility requirements, may submit a Request for Review of Eligibility of their target projects.

Send request to JobsPlus@hud.gov

Must contain the project name(s) and project numbers(s) that are proposed to be combined

HUD will review the Request using the same query of PIC data (from 6/30/2025) on the proposed combined projects to determine if the proposed projects meet conditions 1-3 listed above.

HUD response will be an eligibility approval, eligibility disapproval, or a request for more information.

All initial Requests for Review of Eligibility must be received no later than 20 calendar days prior to

October 7, 2025, application due date (by October 27th).

Request for Review of Eligibility

(continued)

Cost Sharing and Matching You are required to have firmly committed match contribution equivalent to at least 25 percent (%) of the total grant amount requested (as of the application date).

Your local match may be provided as a cash or in-kind donation.

Your match must align with the Jobs Plus program goals and address the unique resident needs specific to target AMP(s)/ development/site(s).

You must identify and explain which Jobs Plus goal (Section III. B. Goals and

Objectives) and/or resident need (Section V. B.1 Rating Factor 2 Need) is supported by the local partner match.

For further information on size and unemployment requirements, see FY25 NOFO, Section II.B. Cost Sharing.

Cost Sharing and Matching

- Required Partnerships

Applicants are expected to work with local partners to improve the program participants' access to employment training/ skill building and direct hire job placements.

At minimum, the match commitments must include at least three (3) of the following workforce supports:

➢ Workforce Development Boards (WDB) and American Job Center(s) (this is a mandatory partnership)

➢ Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) workforce program(s) partner

➢ Community college/university and/or accredited Vocational Training Institution

➢ Transportation provider(s)

➢ Childcare provider(s)

➢ Employment partners (local businesses or area chamber of commerce committed to hiring/placing program participants)

For further information see FY25 NOFO, Section II. B. Cost Sharing or Matching

Program Description Jobs Plus Model

Employment-related services: Grantees offer employment-related services to residents with a range of employment needs. Services reduce barriers to employment.

Financial/rent incentive: Residents enrolled in JP Rent Incentive will be granted a 100 percent earned income disregard that will remain in place for up to 48 months (or until grant end, whichever is sooner).

Community Support for Work: Grantees market JP services and financial incentive to all targeted residents in a development. The goal is to saturate communities with work-related messages and to create a culture of work.

All 3 parts needed to = JP model

Employment-related Services

Financial Incentive

Community Support for

Work

Note: Jobs Plus is a place-based program that promotes economic self-reliance for working participants

(For further information see FY25 NOFO, Section III. A. Program Description.

The JP Program model relies on the intersectionality of 3 core components:

Who Jobs Plus Serves

Target population for Jobs Plus are public housing residents who are “workforce adults” – people age 18 up to 64 (less than 65) who are mentally and physically able to become employed.

PHA's are expected to contact 100 percent (%) of all adults (ages 18 – 64) within the first year, to inform them about the Jobs Plus program.

Key categories/definitions of JP beneficiaries:

❑ Jobs Plus Eligible. Any public housing resident of the target public housing project is eligible for Jobs Plus.

❑ Jobs Plus Participant. A public housing resident of the target public housing project who has completed an assessment for the program.

Note: Although, the program focus is workforce adults ages 18 to 64, adults over the age of 64 must permitted to benefit from the employment services and enroll in the JP rent incentive.

Goals and Objectives The following are the minimum goals expected of each grant program by the end of the four-year grant cycle (see Section III. B. Goals and Objectives):

Numeric Goals Minimum goal required by HUD by end of Year 4

1. Percent of individuals enrolled in the Jobs Plus rent incentive 80% of workforce adults in the project

2. Percent of Individuals engaged with the Jobs Plus program as measured by the number of individuals completing an assessment at intake 75% of workforce adults in the project

3. Percent of individuals provided with one or more post-assessment services 60% of workforce adults in the project

4. Employment rate of workforce adults 110% increase in the baseline employment rate for all work-able adults within AMP(s)

5. Average yearly earnings of workforce adults

115% increase in the baseline average earnings for all work-able adults within the

AMP(s)

6. Percent of assessed residents continuously employed for at least 180 days 25% of assessed residents

Employment Related

Services

Jobs Plus Model -

Employment-Related Services

The comprehensive nature of the Jobs Plus program requires that

PHA's establish partnerships with critical employment readiness partners.

Employment related services must be provided in accordance with

Section II.3.m.Eligible Activities and Costs.

Employment-Related Services –

Services that can be provided Program services provided on-site and/or virtually should include, but need not be limited to, the following:

Job development and placement services;

Entrepreneurship workshops

Paid on the job training;

Job counseling, career counseling, career coaching;

Job search and resume writing skills;

Short-term assistance with services/items needed for employment, GED, or certificate programs, such as:

transportation assistance, childcare, relevant books, training materials, uniforms, work-related clothing/uniform, interview clothing, Licensing test fees, work-related tools/equipment, job-related health testing (e.g., tuberculosis test, drug testing, state-issued picture ID, or other hiring pre-requisites);

See slide #81 for additional details on employment services

Financial/Rent Incentive

Jobs Plus Model –

Jobs Plus Rent Incentive

Reference Section III. 2. Financial/Rent Incentive for further information the implementing the JP rent incentive.

You are required to implement the Jobs Plus financial/rent incentive and make it available for all the on-lease adults in the target development/ project.

Budget – BLI 9210. You may use Jobs Plus grant funds (should be shown in program budget) to cover the cost of the Jobs Plus rent incentive.

New! Jobs Plus Rent Incentive Changes. The JP rent incentive for fiscal year 2025 is different from the Jobs Plus Earned Income Disregard (JPEID) structure used in association with prior FY Jobs Plus grants.

(continued Part -1 )

Resident Choice. Residents must be able to choose whether they want to enroll in the JP rent incentive. Auto-enrollment is not allowed.

➢ The only requirement you can impose to qualify for the rent incentive is that residents must be on the lease to enroll in JP rent incentive.

➢ All on-lease adults in the Jobs Plus project are eligible to enroll in the JP rent incentive benefit, even if they do not actively participate in other Jobs Plus activities.

For applicants with RAD, additional program requirements apply (see Section III.A.6. RAD conversions and JP Rent Incentive.)

➢ In the case of a RAD conversion, Notice H 2025-01/PIH 2025-03 (HA) - RAD Supplemental

Guidance 4C (or successor notice) states that any Jobs Plus program at a target project(s) is permitted to enroll residents in Jobs Plus services and in the Jobs Plus financial/rent incentive before and after RAD conversion.

(in accordance with Federal Register 90:154 (August 13, 2025) p.

38985).

SIMILAR TO EID, but MODIFIED:

No phase down (no 50%/100%). Residents who previously used up some or all of their lifetime EID eligibility are eligible to receive the full term of the JP rent incentive benefit.

JP Rent Incentive. Excludes from Family Rent calculation 100% of a participating resident’s incremental earned income for a period of up to 48 months, beginning on the date on which a public housing resident enrolls in the JP rent incentive, and ending in 48 months or at the end of the grant period, whichever is sooner (in accordance with Federal Register 90:154 (August 13, 2025) p.

38985).

The JP rent incentive is not a rent freeze. The term “rent freeze” should not be used in describing the rent incentive. Unearned income including child support, benefits, TANF, SSI, disability etc. may cause the residents rent to increase. It is critically important that PHA staff, partners and residents understand and communicate this.

(continued Part - 2)

Community Support for Work

Jobs Plus Model –

Community Support for Work (CSW)

Reference Section III. 3. Community Support for Work, for further information the implementing the JP rent incentive.

Community Support for Work (CSW) is a core component of the Jobs Plus program, reflecting the goal of building a caring and cohesive community network that supports advancing economic self-reliance.

Your Jobs Plus program must include hiring residents as Community Coaches to lead the following CSW efforts:

➢ Coaches are responsible for fostering community cohesion and developing peer networks that support their neighbors' employment and career goals.

➢ Coaches should help shape the JP program activities and outreach efforts based on their intimate knowledge of the needs and strengths of the community.

➢ Coaches should be empowered to collect resident feedback about the program and serve as the voice of the residents in governance meetings.

CSW strategy should include multiple intentional and complementary steps to develop resident/peer-to-peer employment support falling into two main categories:

➢ Energizing existing community assets to build a self-sufficient community; and

➢ Informal and non-traditional activities that support residents’ progress toward economic self-sufficiency.

Program History Changes from Previous

NOFO

Substantial Change in Rating Factor weighted points.

Substantial change in Rating Factors maximum page limit.

Criterion Point Distribution

Rating Factor 1 - Capacity 12 points

Rating Factor 2 - Need 18 points

Rating Factor 3 - Soundness of Approach 60 points

Rating Factor 4 - Match/ Leverage 10 points

Rating Factor 5 - Preference Points 2 points

Total 104 points

Criterion Max Page Limit

Rating Factor 1 - Capacity 4

Rating Factor 2 - Need 5

Rating Factor 3 - Soundness of Approach 20

Rating Factor 4 - Match/ Leverage No limit

Rating Factor 5 - Preference Points No limit

Total maximum number of pages 29

FY2025 Changes from Previous NOFO Changes FY23-24 vs. FY25 NOFO

Federal Register notice

Section II. A.2.c. Eligibility Applicants

New! NOFO has been revised to comply with HOTMA, which eliminated the public housing Earned

Income Disregard and meant a new Jobs Plus rent incentive structure is needed for FY 2025 Jobs Plus grantees.

➢ Section III.A.2. Financial/Rent Incentive – Jobs Plus Earned Income outlines HUD’s intent to provide a new rent incentive structure via a Federal Register notice and other resources. This applies to FY 2025 grants and not prior Jobs Plus grants.

PHAs that have already received a Jobs Plus grants may apply for funding under this NOFO; however, AMPs (target sites) previously funded through a prior Jobs Plus grant may not be the target of a fiscal year (FY) 2025 Jobs Plus application. Federally recognized tribes and tribally designated housing entities are not eligible applicants for this NOFO.

Section II.A.3. Program Specific Requirements

Paragraph g. Outreach Requirement. Added-in language to clarify and confirm that grantees are expected to contact 100% of eligible adults within the first year.

Paragraph l. Time Periods for Implementation. The work-plan due date has been extended to 90 days from grant implementation start date (originally 60).

(continued – part 1)

Section II.A.3. Program Specific Requirements

Paragraph m. Eligible Activities and Costs.

➢ Added-in language to make the distinction that this grant should not pay for PHA owned property/space and this is not an eligible expense.

➢ Added-in language to emphasize that leasing or rental of private (non-PHA owned) property space and related utilities is considered an administrative cost and is an eligible expense.

Paragraph o. Repositioning.

➢ Added a requirement for Grantees to inform HUD of any repositioning activities

Paragraph p. Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD).

➢ Added clarification that any Jobs Plus program at a target project(s) is permitted to enroll residents in

Jobs Plus services and in the Jobs Plus financial/rent incentive before and after RAD conversion.

➢ Public Housing Residents and Section 8 Residents (PBV or PBRA) at the target public housing project, where there is a RAD conversion, can be served by the full Jobs Plus program including the JP rent incentive for the full term of the grant.

(continued – part 2)

Section II.A. 4. Criteria for Eligible Public Housing Project.

➢ Removed the requirement for AMPs/projects to be within a 2-mile radius of the

Jobs Plus center.

Section II. B. Cost Sharing or Matching.

➢ Added additional requirements for partner match letters to directly align match commitments to the Jobs Plus four (4) year goals and/or barriers identified in the resident needs survey.

➢ Applicants must identify and explain which Jobs Plus goal (Section III.B.3. Other

Program Goals) and/or resident need (Section V. Rating Factor 2.A Resident Need) is supported by the local partner match.

(continued – part 3)

Section V. Rating Factor 2 – Need

➢ Increased the point total for this rating factor to 18 (originally 8)

➢ This section emphasizes making ongoing adjustments to service delivery based on the evolving employment needs and incorporating participant feedback about the quality of services.

➢ Removed the Local Employment Market requirement (originally 1 point was assigned to this rating factor)

▪ While understanding the local employment market is important, the focus will be more on how well the applicants and their match partners will be able to respond to the unique employment needs that are specific to the target site(s).

▪ Note: Rating Factor 2 Need, A. 1., allows for inclusion of supplemental information

(outside of PIC) that can be used to determine the employment needs of the target site(s).

(continued – part 4)

Section II.A. 4. Criteria for Eligible Public Housing Project.

➢ Removed the requirement for AMPs/projects to be within a 2-mile radius of the

Jobs Plus center.

Section II. B. Cost Sharing or Matching.

➢ Added additional requirements for partner match letters to directly align match commitments to the Jobs Plus four (4) year goals and/or barriers identified in the resident needs survey.

➢ Applicants must identify and explain which Jobs Plus goal (Section III.B.3. Other

Program Goals) and/or resident need (Section V. Rating Factor 2.A Resident Need) is supported by the local partner match.

(continued – part 5)

New! Rating Factor 4 – Match/Leverage

➢ Added additional requirements for partner match letters to include at least three (3) of the following critical employment partners.

Critical Employment Partners.

➢ Workforce Development Boards (WDB) and American Job Center(s)

➢ Community College/University and/or accredited Vocational Training Institution

➢ Transportation provider (s)

➢ Childcare provider (s)

(continued – part 6)

Section VII. D. Reporting

➢ The annual report requirement has been removed and replaced with a requirement to track annual outcomes and adjustments made to the work-plan over time.

Focusing on program improvement over time.

➢ The annual workplan will focus on tracking program improvement over time.

➢ Grantees are required to show changes to strategies and/or partners and how those adjustments positively impact progress towards achieving the Jobs Plus four (4) year goals.

(continued – part 7)

Application Contents & Format

Jobs Plus Initiative

Section IV. Applications Contents and Format

Narrative page limits assume 12-point Time New Roman font, double-spaced with one-inch margins

Ensure Completeness! Read carefully and make sure you include requested documents.

Otherwise, your grant application may not pass eligibility/ threshold or may receive fewer points.

Page limits: 29 pages is the total maximum length of all narratives.

Executive Summary – no page limit

Rating Factor 1 Capacity– not to exceed 4 pages Rating Factor 2 Need – not to exceed 5 pages Rating Factor 3 Soundness – not to exceed 20 pages

Rating Factor 4 - Match/ Leverage - No limit

Rating Factor 5 - Preference Points - No limit

Map with narrative – No limit

Narratives and attachments

Narratives and attachments must accompany your application and follow the formatting and page limit guidelines (see Section IV. C. Narratives and Other Attachments):

Executive Summary

Rating Factor 1 Narrative – Capacity;

Rating Factor 2 Narrative – Need;

Rating Factor 3 Narrative – Soundness of Approach;

Organizational chart;

Map with narrative;

MOU between PHA and WDB (signed);

Program Schedule;

Detailed Program Budget;

Jobs Plus Summary Budget (HUD 50144);

Budget Narrative;

Match Commitment Letters and Match Commitment Chart;

Preference Points documentation

Application Review

Information Eligibility and Threshold Review

Eligibility and Threshold Review Section V. Application Review Information

Applications that do not meet the eligibility and threshold requirements are not rated or ranked and will not receive HUD funding.

Eligible Applicants and Eligible Public Housing Projects. Applicants that do not demonstrate compliance with the requirements in Section II.A.2. c., Eligible Applicants - Program Specific Details will not receive further consideration for funding.

For further information on program specific threshold eligibility requirements, reference Section V.A.4., Other Threshold Eligibility Requirements.

Reference Section V. 4. Other Threshold Eligibility Requirements for further information the requirements for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Applicants must establish and maintain a working relationship with the local Workforce Development

Board (WDB) and/or local American Job Center (AJC). Reminder - This is a statutory requirement of the Jobs Plus program.

To meet the threshold requirement, the applicant must submit documentation of this relationship in the form of an MOU between the PHA and the local Workforce Development Board/American Job Center.

MOU must:

Identify roles & responsibilities of signatory agencies as it pertains to the program and how the

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds will be used to support JP at targeted project.

The MOU must have been signed by all parties between the date of publication of this NOFO and the application due date.

If there is an MOU already in place, the parties must execute an Addendum that specifically references the Jobs Plus Program for Fiscal Year 2025, reflects the criteria of this paragraph, and meets the date requirements above. Please provide the existing MOU and addendum in your application.

Eligibility and Threshold Review – (continued)

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Threshold Review - Match

Applicants must demonstrate the minimum match through the attachment of detailed match commitment letters as described in Section II.B. Cost

Sharing and Match.

All applicants are required to have in place a firmly committed match contribution equivalent to at least 25% of total grant amount requested.

➢ May be cash or in-kind donation

➢ All agencies providing match must have provided a detailed letter on letterhead signed by a person authorized to make the commitment

Read very carefully Section III.C for details on match/leverage and its documentation

Merit Review

Rating Factors

Reference Section V. B. Merit Review for further information on application screening, rating and ranking.

HUD will screen each application to determine if the eligibility criteria in Section II are met (including screening for technical deficiencies, if applicable).

➢ If any eligibility criteria are not met, the application will be deemed ineligible and will not receive further review.

➢ If all eligibility criteria are met, then HUD will screen the application to determine if it meets the other threshold criteria listed in Section II. (including screening for technical deficiencies, if applicable)

Applications that will not be rated or ranked. HUD will not rate or rank applications that are deficient at the end of the cure period or that have not met the Threshold Requirements described in Section {insert citation} of this NOFO. Such applications will not be eligible for funding.

Section V.D. Selection Process, describes the Selection Process

Merit Review – Program Specific Application Screening

Rating Factors (RF)– General

Each RF includes criteria for earning Higher points, vs. Fewer points.

The terms "describe" and "demonstrate" is used throughout

RFs. This does not mean to just restate the rating factor language. Rather, it means applicants need to describe in their own words their response to the particular criteria.

Pay attention to Page Limits!

Criterion Total number of points = 104

Rating Factor 1 - Capacity 12 points

Rating Factor 2 - Need 18 points

Rating Factor 3 - Soundness of Approach 60 points

Rating Factor 4 - Match/ Leverage 10 points

Rating Factor 5 - Preference Points 2 points

Total 104 points

Rating Factor 1 – Capacity Capacity to Operate a Place-Based, Community-Focused Program

(Max - 12 points)

Point Distribution

Demonstrated ability to meet the program goals of a Place-Based, Community-Focused Program (6 max points)

Experience Partnering with Residents (up to 6 points)

Key Points of Emphasis

HUD will evaluate the extent to which the applicant demonstrates past performance and the organizational resources necessary to successfully implement the proposed activities in accordance with the proposed Program Schedule.

HUD's evaluation of the applicant's capacity may include a capacity and past performance review by local PIH Field Office.

Do not submit job descriptions or resumes.

Do not submit Social Security Numbers of any individuals.

Please note that the Capacity rating factors evaluate and award points based on experience that occurred in the past, not plans for the future, unless otherwise noted.

Past Experience

Describe your agency’s most recent (within the last 5 years) experience administering an employment-related grant (e.g. Jobs Plus, YouthBuild, ROSS, etc.) that was specifically designed to improve employment opportunities and increase earned income for low-income individuals.

More weight will be awarded to applicants with experience working directly with Workforce Development Board/American Job Centers (WDB/AJC).

Operating Place Based Programming

Describe how you will ensure that the service coordination location(s) and/or case management services are easily accessible to all residents, including provisions to accommodate and/or transport persons with disabilities and how you will offer employment readiness services to working adults outside of normal business days and hours.

Applicants may propose multiple locations for program operation but should demonstrate how the proposed plan will meet the 100 percent (%) saturation goal. Describe the

If you propose to target more than one project/development/site (see Section II.A.4., Criteria for Eligible Public Housing Projects), describe how you will ensure the place-based approach of Jobs Plus is realized..

Rating Factor 1- Capacity

Rating Factors 2 – Need Understanding Resident Needs and Applying Qualitative Feedback

(Max - 18 points)

Point Distribution

Understanding Resident Needs and Applying Qualitative Feedback (10 max points)

Other Existing Employment-Related Programming (8 max points)

Using Data to Inform Decisions

Applicants should demonstrate that a resident needs survey and employment services gap analysis was incorporated in the strategies for implementing the JP program and that this work was completed as of the application deadline.

Describe how data from the residents needs survey and qualitative feedback from local stakeholders have informed the Jobs Plus staffing structure and the implementation strategies proposed in the application.

Needs Assessments/Survey Results

Applicants should demonstrate that a resident needs survey and employment services gap analysis was incorporated in the strategies for implementing the JP program and that this work was completed as of the application deadline.

HUD will consider the extent to which the grant application demonstrates that the applicant has done the following:

Outlined the results of the resident needs survey. Please provide numbers, percentages, and descriptive information about the employment barriers.

Identified the 5 to 10 employment barriers that are unique to the target population.

Rating Factors 2 – Need (continued)

Existing Employment-Related Programming

Applicants should demonstrate that a resident needs survey and employment services gap analysis was incorporated in the strategies for implementing the JP program and that this work was completed as of the application deadline.

Applicants should demonstrate how feedback from residents (i.e. needs surveys, focus groups) and the local WDB/AJC is used to identify the gaps in existing employment-related services.

Rating Factors 3 – Soundness of Approach Understanding Resident Needs and Applying Qualitative Feedback

(Max - 60 points)

Point Distribution

Team Make-Up, Roles/Responsibilities: (10 max points)

Applying the Jobs Plus Model: (20 max points)

Administering the Jobs Plus Program: (25 max points)

Application Quality & Consistency: (5 max points)

Team Make-up, Jobs Plus Staffing Roles/Responsibilities

Describe the make-up of the Jobs Plus staff that will be responsible for implementing the Jobs Plus grant and explain the role(s) and responsibilities for each JP team member.

➢ HUD will consider the extent to which the grant application demonstrates that the applicant has made a firm commitment to hiring the core Jobs Plus staff in accordance with the hiring timeline.

➢ For details on the hiring timeline, see Section V. Rating Factor 3, A. Team Make-up, Roles, and Responsibilities

HUD will consider the extent to which the applicant has achievable strategies for maximizing the peer engagement role of the Community Coaches.

➢ Capacity building and leadership development for community coaches.

➢ Describe how the community coach role will contribute to advancing the Jobs Plus four-year goals.

There should be one full-time person (Jobs Plus coordinator/director) who has primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Jobs Plus grant and spends all of their time doing so.

A full-time Jobs Plus staff person is not permitted to also serve the functions of a Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) or Family Self- Sufficiency (FSS) coordinator.

Jobs Plus grant funds may not be used to pay the salary of a ROSS or FSS coordinator for any ROSS or FSS program.

HUD will fund no portion of an application that duplicates other funded programs or activities from prior year awards or other selected applicants.

See 2 CFR part 200.405 for additional information on Allowable Cost requirements.

Jobs Plus Coordinator Role

Connecting Residents to Employment Services

Your plan must ensure the case management/coaching workload is manageable based on resident needs and that there is a strategy for ensuring the resident service delivery is seamless, timely, and effective.

HUD strongly encourages a caseload of 1 case manager/coach to 50 eligible workforce households or less. No points will be awarded for caseloads greater than 1:50 households.

In your proposed plan describe how you will meet the one hundred percent (100%) saturation goal for resident outreach.

Employment Services & Partner Alignment

HUD will consider the extent to which the applicant has identified effective strategies for connecting residents to employment-related services.

HUD will consider the extent to which there is an alignment between the proposed employment-related services and the employment barriers identified in the resident needs survey.

Identify the JP four-year program goal and resident need (employment barrier) that each service/partner is aligned to support.

See Section V.B. Rating Factor 3, B. Applying the Jobs Plus Model, 1. Employment Related Services, for further information on the required employment readiness partners.

Jobs Development

HUD will consider the extent to which the applicant has identified effective job development strategies.

Describe the strategy for recruiting employers that are willing to hire qualified residents for employment .

Describe the specific strategies you will use to keep employers engaged and willing to provide career advancement and additional employment opportunities throughout the grant term.

Describe how you will use this grant opportunity to connect Jobs Plus participants to Section 3 employment opportunities, such as training positions, either within the PHA or with your contractors. Include incentives (if applicable) you will provide for contractors to hire or retain Jobs Plus participant.

Incorporating Qualitative Feedback & Making Adjustments

HUD will consider the extent to which the proposed plan/ strategies have incorporated the residents’ feedback in the design of the Jobs Plus program to include (not limited to) evaluating satisfaction with the quality and availability of existing employment-related services.

Describe your strategy for ensuring a continued and successful working relationship with the local employment partners (WDB/AJC) to specifically assist the targeted residents.

Describe how the Job Developer(s) will work directly with the business community to identify and create employment opportunities and act as liaisons with local employment agencies.

JP Rent Incentive

HUD will consider the extent to which the applicant demonstrates an effective staffing plan and internal communication (JP staff, property management and finance) protocols for administering, monitoring and reporting back to HUD the rent incentive outcomes.

➢ Identify who will be responsible for monitoring the participant enrollments and reporting this to HUD.

➢ Identify who will be responsible for monitoring the rent incentive costs and eLOCCS reporting to HUD.

➢ Provide the cost projections to include the projected number resident who will have access the JP rent incentive and the total amount of grant funds that will be allocated the rent incentive.

➢ Explain how you will ensure a smooth transition for residents exiting the JP rent incentive at the end of the grant term to ensure that residents are able to maintain employment and manage a sudden, sharp increase in rent payments.

Community Supports for Work

HUD will consider the extent to which the applicant demonstrates an intentional approach to leadership development and skill building for residents that are willing to lead self-sufficiency initiatives.

➢ Explain how the Community Coaches (resident staff) and/or volunteers will be trained and positioned to effectively lead problem-solving groups and/or community forums that engage residents who are least likely to join Jobs Plus and help them to overcome common obstacles to employment.

➢ Explain the performance metrics the Community Coaches will be expected to meet as part of their participation in the program.

(continued – part 5)

Outreach and Engagement

HUD will consider the extent to which the applicant demonstrates a comprehensive outreach and engagement strategy that ensures one hundred percent (100%) of adults at the target public housing project(s) will be contacted in the first year of implementation.

➢ Describe the outreach/engagement strategy for residents with robust challenges such as no work history, low literacy skills, transportation needs, childcare needs, and returning/reentering citizens/formerly incarcerated.

➢ How will the applicant and local partners work with each participant to develop and implement an Individual Training and Services Plan (ITSP). Describe how the partner network will work with participants on a continuing basis to strengthen their job skills for career advancement..

(continued – part 6)

Program Improvements/ Partner Accountability

HUD will consider the extent to which the applicant demonstrates that the applicant has an accountability structure in place that can quickly identify emerging gaps in employment-related services and adjust the implementation strategies and/or employment-related partners over the course of the entire grant term.

➢ Describe how you will monitor the effectiveness of the employment-related partners to ensure your employment partners are accountable for meeting the minimum Jobs Plus program goals and/or addressing the evolving resident needs throughout the grant term.

➢ Describe the communication (feedback loop), including process for keeping partners informed of program developments, sharing challenges, and revising strategies when match commitments and/or Jobs Plus program goals are not being met.

➢ Describe how will the program communicate the changes to services and/or partners over time.

(continued part 7)

Data Management

Specify how you will utilize the program results/outcome data to inform changes to program implementation over-time.

➢ Describe how the HUD Jobs Plus quarterly outcome report will be used to inform decisions in “real-time” to improve implementation of the Jobs Plus program.

➢ Describe how the quarterly financial reporting will be used to inform adjustments to the four (4) year budget based on the evolving funding needs over time?

Specify how the JP rent incentive data tracking systems will be used to support meet the Jobs Plus program goals.

➢ Who will be responsible for tracking the JP rent incentive?

➢ How will the JP rent incentive data be shared/accessed internally between property management and the case managers?

Program Schedule

Provide a proposed program schedule that includes feasible time frames for accomplishing all implementation activities and start-up activities to ensure you will begin serving participants no later than 6 months after the grant start.

The schedule should also include the time periods for implementation milestones to include the achieving the Jobs Plus program goals outlined in Section III.B. Goals and Objectives.

(continued – part 8)

Budget & Budget Narrative

Applicants must submit a completed Jobs Plus Summary Budget Form (HUD-50144), detailing the costs for each BLI category (e.g., salaries, JP rent incentive, supportive services, etc.) on the Summary Budget.

➢ Budget information will be evaluated on the extent to which it shows all estimated applicable costs in a clear and coherent format, and the extent to which it supports the plan proposed in your application.

➢ Proposal should be financially feasible, as reflected in budget (grant $ and match)

➢ Budget information must be in accordance with Section II.A.3.M. Eligible Activities and Costs, III.D.

Unallowable Costs and III. E. Indirect Costs.

Applicants must submit a narrative (part of the overall Soundness of Approach page limit) describing the budget and summarizing the specific activity costs (listed in the Work Plan), including costs related to:

➢ Salaries and benefits

➢ Program planning and administration

➢ Outside technical assistance

➢ All other costs to be paid with grant funds or through match.

(continued – part 9)

Application Quality, Feasibility and Impact

To ensure the maximum impact of Jobs Plus grant, the application must be of a high quality and present a plan that is feasible and impactful. a) The information and strategies described in your application should be well organized, coherent, and internally consistent.

➢ The information and strategies described in your application should be well organized, coherent, and internally consistent. Your application should provide information consistently within the narratives and attachments, including numbers, statistics and names/organization names in your narratives and attachments.

➢ The proposal should be financially feasible, as reflected in the budget including grant and match/leverage resources.

➢ The proposal should be impactful, demonstrating the Jobs Plus model and program objectives, as well as a clear connection between the needs identified and the services/strategies proposed to respond to those needs.

Note: Higher points will be awarded for proposal that convey a high level of quality, feasibility and impact as related to the Jobs Plus program. Fewer points will be awarded if the application demonstrates that your proposal will accomplish some of the core goals of the program, have a less significant impact on the targeted project(s), is less likely to succeed, lacks detail, lacks responsiveness to the above criteria, lacks quality, and/or lacks feasibility.

Match/Leverage, both financial and in-kind, is an essential element of Jobs Plus. Jobs Plus grant dollars enable grantees to leverage other local, state and federal resources to catalyze significant change in employment outcomes for public housing residents.

The match/leverage commitments made should respond to the needs and size of the targeted resident population identified in the application, including Rating Factor 2 Need.

Applications without the Match Commitment Letters will not meet the 25% match threshold (will not be considered for funding) – and cannot earn points for this factor.

To receive points under this rating factor, matched resource commitments must directly contribute to the Jobs Plus program and must follow the documentation requirements for Section II. B. Cost Sharing or Matching.

Rating Factors 4 – Match/Leverage Match/Leverage, both financial and in-kind, is an essential element of Jobs Plus

(Max - 10 points)

Include a table (“Match Chart”) in your application in the format in NOFO summarizing the match commitments you have secured

For each entity on Match Chart, application must contain a corresponding Match Commitment Letter containing the information required in Section II.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching.

Rating Factors 4 – (Continued)

Match/Leverage Chart

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Goal/Barrier Identified Partner Name

(List key employment readiness partners)

Match/Leverage Amount

Employment Readiness Coordination Name local WDB/ WIB List match/leverage amount

Employment Training & Skills Building Name Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

(WIOA) Workforce Program(s) partner

Employment Training & Skills Building Name Community College, four-year institutions and/or

Vocation Training providers

Transportation Name Transportation Partner

Childcare Name Childcare Partner

Employment Partners Name local businesses or area chamber of commerce committed to hiring/placing program participants

Example Match Chart

Point Distribution

HUD will use ratio of grant funds requested to the dollar value of documented, committed resources leveraged from other sources and will award points in accordance with NOFO table

Reminder - Applications without the required Match Commitment Letters will not meet the 25 percent (%) match threshold and will not be considered for funding.

Match/Leverage Ratio Points Awarded

101 percent or more of the requested grant amount 4

76 percent to 100 percent of the requested grant amount 3

51 percent to 75 percent of the requested grant amount 2

26 percent to 50 percent of the requested grant amount 1

25 percent or less of the requested grant amount 0

Rating Factors 4 – (Continued)

Match/Leverage Ratio

Rating Factors 4 – Match/Leverage

Match/leverage letters must contain Letterhead of contributing entity

Written signature (not typed name) of authorized individual at contributing agency

Date of letter that falls between the publication date (8/12/25) and application date of NOFO (10/27/25)

Language that shows resource is firmly committed. "Firmly committed" means that the funding amount and its dedication to Jobs Plus is explicit. Endorsements or general letters of support from organizations or vendors alone will not count as resources and should not be included.

Total dollar value of commitment, per year of grant and overall

Explanation of how contributed resource relates to success of participants in JP program

Same letters reviewed for Match compliance will be used for Leverage scoring

Same documentation rules apply. READ the rules (Section II. B. Cost Sharing or Matching) carefully!

Match/leverage letters must explain total value of services

Calculations must be clear and able to be repeated by reviewers

Number of participants served must be clearly stated, reasonable, and appropriate for size of development and proposed program

For in-kind matches, detailed calculations showing how total dollar value was derived for each match amount

➢ Example – ABC agency is committing 5 slots per year in a computer training program. The match commitment letter must read: 5 slots x $100 per slot x 4 years = $2,000….

➢ See several examples in NOFO

For cash match, source and type of funds must be clearly stated but calculations are not necessary

Applicants proposing to use their own, non-Jobs Plus resources to provide match must also have a letter of commitment indicating:

➢ Whether the resource is cash or in-kind;

➢ Source and type of funds (e.g. details re non-Federal source);

➢ Value of the match

➢ How match will be used

Federal sources generally may not be used as match unless otherwise permitted by that program’s authorizing statute.

➢ Reference Section II. B. 5. Ineligible Match Commitments for further information on match contributions that may not be used to meet the 25% threshold requirement.

PHA Operating and Capital Funds may not be used as a match, but may be used in conjunction with JP grant if used for purposes eligible under JP. Regular PHA staff time is not eligible for match.

State or local government sources may be used as match

Funds from private contributions may be used as match

Eligible Match Commitments

Reference Section II. B. Cost Sharing or Match for further information on program requirements for local. In-kind contributions may include, but are not limited to, items in the following list.

The WDB/AJC Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as specified in Section II.B.2. Required Partnerships or may count towards the 25 percent (%) threshold requirement instead of a match letter, but the MOU must contain all calculations described above. See Section V.B.1. Rating Factor 4 – Match/Leverage for available points.

State or local government sources or private contributions may be used as match, subject to the requirements of this section.

The rental value of a non-public housing building or space in a non-public housing building donated for Jobs Plus purposes.

Other non-public housing infrastructure for Jobs Plus purposes.

Time and services contributed by volunteers.

Staff salaries and benefits of service providers.

TANF employment services. Existing and newly generated non-cash employment-related services (e.g. job training) provided by TANF agencies may be accepted as a resource for match funding.

Rating Factors 5 – Preference Points (Max - 4 points)

Point Distribution

HUD may award four (4) points for qualified activities supporting one or more initiative(s) below. In no case will HUD award more than four preference points.

This NOFO supports the following policy initiatives

➢ HBCU’s (2 points)

➢ Minority Serving Institutions (2 points)

➢ Promise Zones (2 points)

➢ Opportunity Zones (2 points)

Following documentation requirements of Section V.A.2.Rating Factors

Risk Review &

Selection Process

Reference Section V.D.1. Program Specific Application Screening, for additional details on the program specific application screening.

Application Screening.

➢ HUD will screen each application to determine if the eligibility criteria in Section II.

are met (including screening for technical deficiencies, if applicable).

➢ If any eligibility criteria are not met, the application will be deemed ineligible and will not receive further review.

➢ If all eligibility criteria are met, then HUD will screen the application to determine if it meets the other threshold criteria listed in Section V.A., Threshold Review

(including screening for technical deficiencies, if applicable).

Review and Selection Process

Preliminary Rating and Ranking

➢ Reviewers will rate each eligible application, based on the rating factors included in this NOFO except for Application Quality, Feasibility, and Impact. Applications will be ranked in score order based on the total score from this stage.

➢ Applications must earn at least 50 percent (%) of the points in Capacity, Need, and Soundness of Approach to advance.

Final Panel Review. A Final Review Panel will:

➢ Review the Preliminary Rating and Ranking documentation to ensure any inconsistencies between preliminary reviewers are identified and rectified and to ensure the Preliminary Rating and Ranking documentation accurately reflects the contents of the application;

➢ Assign a final score to each application and rank them in score order; and

➢ Recommend the most highly rated applications for selection, subject to the amount of available funding, in accordance with the allocation of funds described in Section…