Native American Employment and Training

To support employment and training services for Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian individuals in order to develop more fully the academic, occupational, and literacy skills of such individuals; to make such individuals more compet

The purpose of this assistance listing is to support employment and training services for Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian individuals in order to develop more fully the academic, occupational, and literacy skills of such individuals; to make such individuals more competitive in the workforce and to equip them with the entrepreneurial skills necessary for successful self-employment; and to promote the economic and social development of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian communities in accordance with the goals and values of such communities.

Federally-recognized Indian Tribal Governments, bands or groups, Alaska Native villages or groups (as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 43 U.S.C. 1602(b)), Native Hawaiian organizations meeting the eligibility criteria, and Native American Organizations (public bodies or private nonprofit agencies) are selected by the Secretary on a competitive basis. Tribes, bands, and groups may also form consortia in order to qualify for designation as a grantee. Detailed requirements for consortium grantee applicants are set forth in the WIOA Final Rule at 684.200(e). Supplemental funding is automatically awarded to Federal Recognized Tribes and Tribal consortiums selected through the competitive process. However, there a few exceptions in which non-profit entities receive youth funds. Youth funds are also based on a funding formula and is restricted to Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian youth living on or near reservations, OTSA areas in Oklahoma, Alaskan villages and the state of Hawaii.

Eligibility requirements for the adult program are provided in the WIOA Final Rule at 684.300. To be eligible for services under the adult program, Individuals must meet the definition of an Indian, as determined by a policy of the Native American grantee. American Indians are generally considered members (or descendants) of federally- recognized Indian tribes, bands, and groups or members of well-established state recognized tribes such as, but not limited to, the Homa Indians in Louisiana. Applicants must also be low-income according to HHS poverty income guidelines, or unemployed, or underemployed, or the recipient of a bona fide lay-off notice or an individual who is employed, but is determined by the grantee to be in need of employment and training services to obtain or retain employment that allows for self-sufficiency. Eligibility requirements for the youth program are provided in the WIOA Final Rule at 684.430. To be eligible for services under the youth program, individuals must meet the definition of an Indian, as determined by a policy of the Native American grantee and must be between the ages of 14 and 24 and live on or near a reservation or in OTSA areas of Oklahoma or Alaska Native Villages or ANRC areas in Alaska, or the State of Hawaii and are low income. 684.130 of the Final Rule for WIOA provides the definition of a "high-poverty" area. If applicable Section 129(a)(2)) of WIOA allows youth living in a "high poverty" area to be considered, male applicants also must register or be registered for the Selective Service in order to be eligible for the adult or the youth program. WIOA provides for an exception that allows up to five percent of the youth participants during a program year to be placed on the youth program and not have to meet the low-income requirement.

Funds may be utilized for employment and training programs and services, including classroom training, on-the-job training, training assistance, work experience, youth employment programs, day care, health care, job search, relocation, rent assistance and transportation allowances designed to help eligible participants to obtain employment. There are specified restrictions on the amount of grant funds which can be used for administrative costs (15% but can be up to 20% with prior agency approval). Supplemental youth funds may be utilized to provide employment and training activities that assist youth in achieving academic and employment success. Such activities may include; mentoring, career exploration, work experience / summer employment, community service, education programs including cultural education, leadership development, and supportive services. Funds are restricted to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native American youth and Native Hawaiian youth, between the ages of 14 and 24, living on or near reservations and the States of Oklahoma, Hawaii, and Alaska. Administrative costs are limited to 15% but are negotiable up to 20% upon prior agency approval.

Funds are made available through annual congressional appropriations. The program year runs from July 1 to June 30, except that the Supplemental Youth Services Program runs from April 1 to March 31. Funds obligated for any program year may be expended by each recipient during the program year and the two succeeding program years. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are placed in the HHS, Payment Management System and can be drawn down by the grantee as needed to pay for expenditures.

Selection criteria are described in the regulations, Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA) and the Department's Training and Employment Guidance Letters (TEGL)s In general, awards are based on the regulatory requirements found at 20 CFR 684.200, 684.210, 684.220 and 684.230 in WIOA. In selecting entities for a grantee award, some key criteria include the entity's legal status, ability to administer Federal funds, and prior experience and success in providing employment and training services to the client population.

Grants will be made directly to eligible grantees for their service areas.

Contact the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce Investment, DINAP office for application deadlines (202) 693-3737.

Grant awards may be renewed annually however competition for these grants must be held every 4-years pursuant to Section 166 (c) of WIOA.

Applicants will be notified of approval or disapproval of the 4-year strategic plan and if disapproved, given a reasonable time to make adjustments and resubmit the Plan. Final disapproval of an application or plan submitted by a designated grantee will not be made without affording the grantee an opportunity for reconsideration.