Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 12, March 22, 2024
The Department may allow costs for Barrier Reduction Funding
either through budget line items in the Job Training and Economic Development
Grants as set forth in this Part, or through a separate grant award that
supports a complementary workforce or job training grant award or contract, as
permitted by the applicable funding source.
a) Uses of Funding
Barrier Reduction Funding must be used for services that
attempt to reduce employment barriers including, but not limited to,
housing-related expenses (rent, utilities, etc.), childcare, digital technology
needs, counseling, relief from fines and fees, education needs, and
work-related supplies that are not typically covered by programmatic supportive
services. Depending on the applicable funding source, Barrier Reduction Funding
may be used in addition to supportive services. If permitted by the funding
source, Barrier Reduction Funding may be used to assist individuals who reside
in or receive services in a qualified census tract or in a disproportionately
impacted area, or who have experienced negative economic or public health
impacts (see Section
2660.20)
resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
b) Application Process
1) The Department will post one or more NOFOs
on the GATA Grantee Portal seeking applications from Eligible Barrier Reduction
Funding Recipients contingent upon available funds. The NOFO will describe in
detail the types of projects for which funding is available based on the
funding source. Barrier Reduction Funding may be made available through a NOFO
seeking applications for Job Training and Economic Development Grants or
through a NOFO seeking requests for a separate grant to support a complementary
workforce or job training grant or contract. A single NOFO may seek
applications from more than one type of project. Applicants shall submit their
application materials by the deadlines set by the Department, which will be at
least 30 days after posting the NOFO. The Department will set forth in the
relevant NOFO, based on the applicable funding source, the specific
requirements and allowable costs, including the maximum amount permitted per
participant, for Barrier Reduction Funding.
2) All Barrier Reduction Funding requests,
whether submitted as part of a budget line item in an application for a Job
Training and Economic Development Grant or as a separate grant to supplement a
complementary workforce job training grant award or contract, shall follow the
application procedures set forth in Section
2660.50,
as applicable.
3) In addition to
the requirements in Section 2660.50, all applicants for Barrier Reduction
Funding will be required to:
A) demonstrate
the applicant has established policies for resource and service coordination
with appropriate provider organizations;
B) demonstrate there is a need to use Barrier
Reduction Funding to assist program participants in a manner related to either
a Job Training and Economic Development Grant or a complementary workforce or
job training grant award or contract;
C) describe the population of individuals to
be served, the region of the State to be served, the types of assistance to be
provided to program participants and the estimated total amounts and the
amounts to be provided per participant; and
D) describe the anticipated outcomes by using
the Barrier Reduction Funding to assist program participants.
4) Applicants requesting Barrier
Reduction Funding as a separate grant to support a complementary workforce or
job training grant award or contract will be required to submit a copy of such
complementary grant agreement or contract either at the time of application or
as soon as it is available.
c) Eligible Barrier Reduction Funding
Recipients and Program Participants
1) For
Barrier Reduction Funding requests submitted as part of a budget line item in
an application for a Job Training and Economic Development Grant, eligible
applicants shall meet the requirements set forth in Section
2660.30
and eligible program participants shall meet the requirements set forth in
Section
2660.70.
2) For Barrier Reduction Funding requested to
supplement a complementary workforce or job training grant award or contract,
eligible Barrier Reduction Funding recipients must meet the eligibility
requirements set forth in Section
2660.30
and the eligible program participants must meet the requirements set forth in
Section 2660.70. In addition, eligible Barrier Reduction Funding recipients and
program participants must meet the requirements of the applicable complementary
workforce or job training grant award or contract, demonstrated by receipt of
the complementary workforce or job training grant award or contract.
d) Barrier Reduction Funding
Issuance and Administrative Procedures
1)
Barrier Reduction Funding requests submitted as part of a budget line item in
an application for a Job Training and Economic Development Grant, will follow
the grant selection and administrative procedures set forth in Section
2660.50.
2) Barrier Reduction
Funding requested as a separate grant to support a complementary workforce or
job training grant award or contract shall follow the award issuance and other
administrative procedures set forth in Section
2660.50
and in the relevant NOFO or request for proposal for the complementary
workforce or job training grant award or contract.