Unemployment Insurance Navigator Grant Program

The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is seeking grant proposals for the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Navigator Grant Program through RFGP OregonBuys #S-47100-00008281, targeting Marion County and the City of Salem. The program aims to improve equitable access to unemployment benefits by partnering with community-based organizations (CBOs) to provide outreach, communication, and one-on-one navigation services to potential UI claimants. Key deliverables include creating and distributing outreach materials, hosting informational booths, conducting virtual and in-person educational trainings, and providing direct UI navigation assistance. Proposers must demonstrate a presence in the specified jurisdictions and have the capability to target underserved populations such as racial and ethnic minorities, low-wage workers, individuals with disabilities, and those with limited English proficiency. The grant requires monthly reporting tracking participant data including date, language, type of claim, race, ethnicity, and gender. Proposals are due by November 9, 2023, with an expected Notice of Intent to Award on or around November 30, 2023, and a grant agreement term from December 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025.

The grant opportunity is open to community-based organizations with specific geographic and demographic focus, with no explicit set-aside designations mentioned. The program has already issued a Notice of Intent to Award grants to Centro Cultural del Condado de Washington and Oregon Human Development Corporation. Funding for the program is derived from the American Rescue Plan Act, with a total of $3,000,000 available for multiple grants. Budget proposals must adhere to strict guidelines, including personnel expenses limited to 10% for administrative support, travel expenses at state rates, and indirect/administrative costs capped at 12% of the total budget. Proposers are prohibited from requesting funding for expenditures already covered by other state or federal agencies. The budget should only include costs for the December 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025 timeframe, with no single month's expenses exceeding 9% of the total award to ensure continued grant activity throughout the period.