Applications Due: May 25, 2020, 4:00 p.m. ET
This post includes three Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs: Dislocated Worker Program, Adult Activities Program, and the Youth Activities Program. There is express language for legal services. The 2016 final rule includes language identifying legal aid among the supportive services considered “necessary to enable an individual to participate” in workforce activities.
This is federal pass-through funding. This announcement is for states and territories to apply for the funding. With WIOA, the potential is most likely for a local workforce office to contract for services. For examples, see the Justice in Government Project’s grants matrix and a case study on Oklahoma.
WIOA was passed in 2014 to help job seekers, youth, and vulnerable individuals find and retain employment. It includes the nationwide system of OneStop Centers, or American Job Centers, at which individuals can access the Internet, receive trainings, work on interviewing techniques, and more. WIOA could support legal aid for: people with a criminal record, people with disabilities, immigrants, and veterans.
Helpful resources
- The Justice in Government Project’s grants matrix features WIOA. It provides an overview of language regarding legal aid, examples of legal aid using WIOA, and helpful tips (including how to find your state administrator, how much funding is available for your state, where to access WIOA quarterly statements, and more.
- The Justice in Government Project research brief about how legal aid addresses barriers to employment for people with a criminal record
- Presentation on July 26, 2019 at the MIE Fundraising Conference – Advancing Your Work with Federal Funding: Addressing the opioid epidemic, facilitating reentry, and serving victims of crime (see slides on “Facilitating Reentry” for information about employment)
- Presentation on May 9, 2018 at the Equal Justice Conference – Advancing Your Work through Federal Funding: Creating Opportunity through Criminal Record-Clearing
Grant information
Number: For Adult Activities: ETA-TEGL-16-19-ADULT; For Dislocated Workers: ETA-TEGL-16-19-DW; For Youth Activities: ETA-TEGL-16-19-YOUTH
Funding Title: There are three programs:
- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult Activities Program Allotments for Program Year (PY) 2020
- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Dislocated Worker Program Allotments for Program Year (PY) 2020
- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Activities Program Allotments for Program Year (PY) 2020
Agency Name: Employment and Training Administration
Funding Instrument Type: Block grant
Express Language for Legal Aid: Yes. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) published the Final Rule on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The new rule includes language identifying legal aid among the supportive services considered “necessary to enable an individual to participate” in workforce activities.
The DOL explained in the preamble to the final rule that legal aid could “uniquely” benefit workers. In responding to public comments received on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and published in the Federal Register, DOL writes that one commentator “strongly supported the inclusion of legal aid services in the Department’s list of examples of supportive services, noting that legal aid can uniquely address certain barriers to employment, including access to driver’s licenses, expunging criminal records, and resolving issues with debt, credit, and housing.” The DOL responded: “The Department concurs that legal aid can uniquely address certain barriers to employment, as enumerated by the commenter. Therefore, the Department has included legal aid services under § 680.900 and made a corresponding change to the list of supportive services allowable in the youth program in § 681.570.”
Expected Number of Awards: 57
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No
Estimated Total Program Funding:
- For Adult Activities: $854,474,000
- For Dislocated Workers: $1,322,493,000
- For Youth Activities: $912,906,000
Award Ceiling:
- For Adult Activities: $129,604,863
- For Dislocated Workers: $142,073,567
- For Youth Activities: $134,926,913
Award Floor: - For Adult Activities: $75,000
- For Dislocated Workers: $116,080
- For Youth Activities: $75,000
Current Closing Date for Applications: May 25, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. ET
Eligible Applicants: States and territories. This is a block grant. Only states and territories are eligible to apply. With WIOA, the potential is most likely for a local workforce office to contract for services.
For more information
Link to Full Announcement: Listings on Grants.gov for Adult Activities, Dislocated Workers, and Youth Activities
Contact Information: Rahel Bizuayene, Grants Management Specialist, Bizuayene.Rahel@dol.gov
Categories: Department of Labor, Employment, Express Language for Legal Aid, Government Organizations, Pass-Through Funds/ Block Grants, Reentry, Subgrant Possibilities
Civil Legal Aid Federal Funding Resources 