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 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. All programs assisted under this section shall be administered in a manner consistent with the principles of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) and the government-to-government relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribal governments. Supplemental youth funding is also awarded to help low-income Native American youth and Native Hawaiian youth, between the ages of 14 and 24, acquire the educational and occupational skills needed to achieve academic and employment success and transition to careers and productive adulthood.

Active 17.265 Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor A - Formula Grants Fiscal Year 2020 INAP has awarded 103 Indian and Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian grantees with Section 166 funding, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000,000.
Fiscal Year 2021 For Program Year 2021: Approximately $69M in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Section 166 funding was appropriated for Indian and Native American Programs including both the Comprehensive Services Program (CSP) and the Supplemental Youth Services Program (SYSP). These funds were available to obligate to 167 grantees from July 1, 2021 through June, 2022.
Fiscal Year 2022 In Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, funding was allocated to 99 entities throughout the United States which included, federally recognized tribes, Native American non-profit organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and Alaska Native Villages. Funds were used to provide a range of employment and training activities including, but not limited to: assistance with tuition and books; resume writing and interviewing techniques; job referrals; assistance with work-related expenses such as necessary tools or uniforms; transportation assistance; payment for professional and licensing fees; and work-based learning such as on-the-job training and work experience. In FY 2022, 6,882 individuals were enrolled in the program. Of these individuals, 1,231 were placed in work experience or on-the-job training and 3,589 were placed in training and 2,807 individuals received supportive services such as childcare, transportation assistance, temporary housing and work related tools and uniforms. In FY 2022, 3,347 participants exited the program. Of these exiters, 69% obtained employment and 52% obtained a training credential. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 - The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law on July 22, 2014. It supersedes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, and amends the Wagner-Peyser Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The regulations implementing WIOA were published in the Federal Register on August 19, 2016., Title I, Part Subtitle D, Section 166, Public Law 113-128
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Public Law 113-128 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 and the Lumbee Indians in North Carolina. 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. An entity requesting to apply for a grant must submit an application through a competitive process known as a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Eligibility for a WIOA section 166 grant is defined in the WIOA Final Rule at 684.200. WIOA also requires a 4-year strategic plan as part of the competitive application process. The required documents and information that must be included in the plans are provided in the FOA. The plan may include, among other things: (1) a program narrative description; (2) a planning summary; and (3) a brief budget summary. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards apply to this program. The Employment and Training Administration publishes a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in the Federal Register every 4 years. The FOA provides the application and award process for interested entities to apply for funding to serve specified geographic areas. Grantees receiving a grant award must also submit a 4-year strategic plan to the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce Investment, Division of Indian and Native American Programs (DINAP). In addition, grantees must describe the administrative, planning, and operational elements needed to implement a WIOA Section 166 program. Instructions for completing these documents are issued by the Employment and Training Administration through a Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL). Grants will be made directly to eligible grantees for their service areas. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Contact the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce Investment, DINAP office for application deadlines (202) 693-3737. From 60 to 90 days. 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. From 30 to 60 days. Grant awards may be renewed annually however competition for these grants must be held every 4-years pursuant to Section 166 (c) of WIOA. 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. 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. Participants of the program must be American Indian, as defined by the organization, which at a minimum must include enrolled members of any Federally Recognized Tribe. For the Adult program, participants must also be unemployed, underemployed or low-income individuals. For the youth program, participants must be between the ages of 14 - 24 and must be low-income unless the grant recipient's service area is located in a "high poverty area" as defined in the WIOA regulations at 684.130. 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 to run programs in designated service areas. However, funds are allocated to entities (selected from the competitive process) using a funding formula. Performance Reports: National office staff monitors performance using the Grants Management System (GEMS) to conduct risk assessments and desk reviews. On-site reviews are also conducted every three years. Not applicable. Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other pertinent records shall normally be retained for a period of three years after the grant is closed out. Participant records shall be retained for five years. Records must be retained longer in certain cases, such as when audit findings have not been resolved. Statutory Formula: Title 1 Part Subtitle D - National Programs, Subpart Section 166 - Indian and Native American Programs Public Law Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 1

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. 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. Funds are placed in the HHS, Payment Management System and can be drawn down by the grantee as needed to pay for expenditures. None/Not specified. Duane Hall
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-4209


Washington, DC 20210 US
hall.duane@dol.gov
Phone: (972) 850-4637
Fax: (972) 850-4605 http://www.doleta.gov/dinap 16-0174-0-1-504 (Formula Grants) FY 22$70,000,000.00; FY 23 est $73,000,000.00; FY 24 est $73,000,000.00; FY 21$69,000,000.00; FY 20$68,000,000.00; FY 19$67,000,000.00; FY 18$67,000,000.00; FY 17$63,000,000.00; FY 16$63,000,000.00; - The range and average of financial assistance varies by year. Amounts are published annually in a Training Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) Grant awards range from $1,000 to $5,000,000. Funding is based on a formula which is based on the percentage of low-income and unemployed Native Americans living in a geographic service area requested by the applicant in the competitive proposal. Federally Recognized tribes are typically awarded funds based on their reservation area (land base) but may also apply for "off-reservation" areas. Federal Register, Volume 81, No. 161, Friday, August 19, 2016, 20 CFR Parts 683 and 684 Employment and Training Administration, United States Department of Labor. and Federal Register, Volume 81, No. 161, Friday, August 19, 2016, Book 2, 20 CFR Part 678, Joint Rule, Employment and Training Administration, United States Department of Labor and United States Department of Education. Not applicable.