YouthBuild

Grant funds will be used to equip low-income youth with the education and employment skills necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Program services include post-secondary education and training opportunities, including apprenticeship and pr

YouthBuild is a community-based pre-apprenticeship program that provides job training and educational opportunities for at-risk youth ages 16-24 who have previously dropped out of high school. Youth learn vocational skills in construction, as well as in other in-demand industries, including health care, information technology, and hospitality. Youth also provide community service through the required construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing for low-income or homeless families in their own neighborhoods. Youth split their time between the vocational training work site and the classroom, where they earn their high school diploma or equivalency degree, learn to be community leaders, and prepare for post-secondary training opportunities, including college, apprenticeships, and employment. YouthBuild includes significant support systems, such as a mentoring, assistance with child care and transportation, stipends, work experience, personal counseling services, and participation in community service and civic engagement.

Eligible applicants for these grants are public or private nonprofit agency or organization (including a consortium of such agencies or organizations), including: a community-based organization; a faith-based organization; an entity carrying out activities under this title, such as a local board; a community action agency; a State or local housing development agency; an Indian tribe or other agency primarily serving Indians; a community development corporation; a State or local youth service or conservation corps; and any other entity eligible to provide education or employment training under a Federal program other than YouthBuild.

Under WIOA, an eligible youth is an individual who is (i) not less than age 16 and not more than age 24 on the date of enrollment; (ii) a member of a low-income family, a youth in foster care (including youth aging out of foster care), a youth offender, a youth who is an individual with a disability, a child of incarcerated parents, or a migrant youth; and (iii) a school dropout or an individual who was a school dropout and has subsequently reenrolled. Up to (but not more than) 25 percent of the participants in the program may be youth who do not meet the education and disadvantaged criteria above but who are: (1) basic skills deficient, despite attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (including recognized certificates of attendance or similar documents for individuals with disabilities); or (2) have been referred by a local secondary school for participation in a YouthBuild program leading to the attainment of a secondary school diploma.

The funds must be used for: (A) Education and workforce investment activities including- (i) work experience and skills training (coordinated, to the maximum extent feasible, with pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs) in the activities described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) related to rehabilitation or construction, and, if approved by the Secretary, in additional in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the region in which the program operates; (ii) occupational skills training; (iii) other paid and unpaid work experiences, including internships and job shadowing; (iv) services and activities designed to meet the educational needs of participants, including- (I) basic skills instruction and remedial education; (II) language instruction educational programs for participants who are English language learners; (III) secondary education services and activities, including tutoring, study skills training, and school dropout prevention and recovery activities, designed to lead to the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (including recognized certificates of attendance or similar documents for individuals with disabilities); (IV) counseling and assistance in obtaining postsecondary education and required financial aid; and (V) alternative secondary school services; (v) counseling services and related activities, such as comprehensive guidance and counseling on drug and alcohol abuse and referral; (vi) activities designed to develop employment and leadership skills, which may include community service and peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social behaviors, and activities related to youth policy committees that participate in decision-making related to the program; (vii) supportive services and provision of need-based stipends necessary to enable individuals to participate in the program and to assist individuals, for a period not to exceed 12 months after the completion of training, in obtaining or retaining employment, or applying for and transitioning to postsecondary education or training; and (viii) job search and assistance. (B) Supervision and training for participants in the rehabilitation or construction of housing, including residential housing for homeless individuals or low-income families, or transitional housing for homeless individuals, and, if approved by the Secretary, in additional in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the region in which the program operates. (C) Supervision and training for participants- (i) in the rehabilitation or construction of community and other public facilities, except that not more than 15 percent of funds appropriated to carry out this section may be used for such supervision and training; and (ii) if approved by the Secretary, in additional in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the region in which the program operates. (D) Payment of administrative costs of the applicant, including recruitment and selection of participants, except that not more than 10 percent of the amount of assistance provided under this subsection to the grant recipient may be used for such costs. (E) Adult mentoring. (F) Provision of wages, stipends, or benefits to participants in the program. (G) Ongoing training and technical assistance that are related to developing and carrying out the program. (H) Follow-up services.

YouthBuild funds are awarded for a period of 3 years and 4 months, which includes four months of planning, two years of program operations, and one year of follow-up services to youth.

Criteria for each proposal are specified in the applicable Funding Opportunity Announcement.

Procedures for each project are specified in the funding opportunity announcement. Generally, the procedure is as follows: A technical review panel composed of staff from ETA program offices as well as peer reviewers evaluates eligible submitted applications. The panel prepares a report for the ETA Grant Officer identifying the weaknesses of the application and the cumulative rating. Once selections are made by the Grant Officer, an Award Notification is sent through the appropriate congressional channels for notification. After awardees are notified, the list of awardees is posted on the ETA Web site at www.doleta.gov/grants. If an application is rejected, a letter is sent to the applicant as notification that they were not selected as a recipient of the grant.

Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines

Renewals with funds are not available. However, with significant justification, ETA may elect to exercise its option to award no-cost extensions to these grants for an additional period at its own discretion, based on the success of the program and other relevant factors.

Procedures for each project are specified in the applicable Funding Opportunity Announcement.