Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals
Published on AidPage by
IDILOGIC on Jun 24, 2005
Purpose of this program:
The purpose of the JOLI program is to award funds to organizations that will create new permanent employment opportunities for individuals receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits and other individuals. Program funds are awarded in four project designs priority areas: (1) expansion of existing businesses through technical and financial assistance; (2) self-employment/microenterprise; (3) new business ventures; (4) non-traditional employment initiatives that lead to economic self-sufficiency for eligible participants. Priority areas one and three require business plans.
Possible uses and use restrictions...
Funded projects must: (1) create new employment and/or business opportunities for TANF recipients and other low-income individuals; (2) enter into a cooperative agreement with the local TANF agency involving client referrals to the applicant project and supportive services for clients, and applicants are encouraged to establish a formal partnership with the local Child Support Enforcement (CSE) agency involving referrals of non-custodial parents to the applicant; (3) develop a comprehensive project design that describes: the work program and strategy; the participant training design; supportive services and counseling; technical assistance and financial assistance plan; assess to business capital; and, follow-up participant support services; and, (4) include an independent, methodologically sound evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities in crating new jobs and/or business opportunities. Funds awarded under this program cannot be used for new construction or the purchase of real property. Grantee's applicable costs and administrative procedures will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR Part 74.
Who is eligible to apply...
Only nonprofit organizations (including community development corporations, faith based, charitable, and tribal organizations) that are tax-exempt under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by reason of paragraph (3) or (4) of section 501(c) of such Code are eligible to apply. Tribal organizations that are published in the Federal Register and www.grants.gov as a "Federally Recognized Tribe" are eligible to apply.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants must include with the application written evidence of the local TANF agency's willingness to enter a cooperative agreement. Applicants are strongly encouraged to include with the application written evidence of a partnership with the local CSE agency. All non-profit organizations (including community development corporations, faith based, charitable, and tribal organizations) must include with the application written proof of tax-exempt status under 501(c) (3) or (4) of Internal Revenue Code 0f 1986. Tribal organizations that are listed in the Federal Register and www.grants.gov as a "Federally Recognized Tribe" have non-profit status and are eligible to apply; they must include with the application written proof of such status.
Note:This is a brief description of the credentials or documentation required prior to, or along with, an application for assistance.
About this section:
This section indicates who can apply to the Federal government for assistance and the criteria the potential applicant must satisfy.
For example, individuals may be eligible for research grants, and the criteria to be satisfied may be that they have a professional or scientific degree,
3 years of research experience, and be a citizen of the United States. Universities, medical schools, hospitals, or State and local governments may also be eligible.
Where State governments are eligible, the type of State agency will be indicated (State welfare agency or State agency on aging) and the criteria that they
must satisfy.
Certain federal programs (e.g., the Pell Grant program which provides grants to students) involve intermediate levels of application processing, i.e., applications
are transmitted through colleges or universities that are neither the direct applicant nor the ultimate beneficiary. For these programs,
the criteria that the intermediaries must satisfy are also indicated, along with intermediaries who are not eligible.
How to apply...
Application Procedure:
All information and forms required to prepare a grant are published in the Federal Register and www.grants.gov website.
Note: Each program will indicate whether applications are to be submitted to the Federal headquarters, regional or local office, or to a State or local government office.
Award Procedure:
Official notice of approved grant applications is made through issuance of a Financial Assistance Award. Official notice of an accepted application proposal is made through award of a grant.
Note: Grant payments may be made by a letter of credit, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Awards may be made by the headquarters office directly to the applicant, an agency field office, a regional office,
or by an authorized county office. The assistance may pass through the initial applicant for further distribution by
intermediate level applicants to groups or individuals in the private sector.
Deadlines and process...
Deadlines
Deadlines for grants are announced in the Federal Register and www.grants.gov as part of the solicitation of applicants. Closing Date for the Fiscal Year 2004 will be published in the Federal Register and www.grants.gov, anticipated in May 2004.
Note:
When available, this section indicates the deadlines for applications to the funding agency which will
be stated in terms of the date(s) or between what dates the application should be received.
When not available, applicants should contact the funding agency for deadline information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Generally, solicited grants will be acted upon within 180 days.
Preapplication Coordination
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Program". If the applicant's State has selected the program for review, the applicant should consult the office or the official designated as the Single Point of Contact in his or her State to obtain more information involving State requirements on the process to be followed in applying for assistance.
Note:
This section indicates whether any prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or nongovernmental units
prior to the submission of a formal application to the federal funding agency.
Appeals
Appeals are processed in accordance with HHS regulations in 45 CFR Part 16.
Note:
In some cases, there are no provisions for appeal. Where applicable, this section discusses appeal procedures or allowable rework time for resubmission
of applications to be processed by the funding agency. Appeal procedures vary with individual programs and are either listed in this section or
applicants are referred to appeal procedures documented in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Renewals
No-cost extensions are available, if formally applied for and approved. If an application is recommended for approval for 1 or more years, the grantee must submit each year a formal request for an extension accompanied by a progress report which will be evaluated prior to a recommendation of continuation.
Note:
In some instances, renewal procedures may be the same as for the application procedure, e.g., for projects of a non-continuing nature renewals will be treated as new, competing applications; for projects of an ongoing nature, renewals may be given annually.
Who can benefit...
Only recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits and any other individual, whose income level does not exceed 100 percent of the official poverty guidelines, as published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can be served under this program. Emphasis is placed on serving individuals who are TANF recipients, homeless, unemployed, non-custodial parents, reside in public housing or receive housing assistance.
Beneficiaries
About this section:
This section lists the ultimate beneficiaries of a program, the criteria they must satisfy and who specifically is not eligible. The applicant and beneficiary will generally be the same for programs that provide assistance directly from a Federal agency. However, financial assistance that passes through State or local governments will have different applicants and beneficiaries since the assistance is transmitted to private sector beneficiaries who are not obligated to request or apply for the assistance.
What types of assistance...
Project Grants
The funding, for fixed or known periods, of specific projects. Project grants can include fellowships, scholarships, research grants, training grants, traineeships, experimental and demonstration grants, evaluation grants, planning grants, technical assistance grants, survey grants, and construction grants.
How much financial aid...
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Maximum awards is $500,000. Ten grant awards are estimated for Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005.
Note:
This section lists the representative range (smallest to largest) of the amount of financial assistance available. These figures are based upon funds awarded in the past fiscal year and the current fiscal year to date. Also indicated is an approximate average amount of awards which were made in the past and current fiscal years.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 03 $4,407,077; FY 04 est $4,349,827 and FY 05 est $4,398,827.
Note:
The dollar amounts listed in this section represent obligations for the past fiscal year (PY), estimates for the current fiscal year (CY), and estimates for the budget fiscal year (BY) as reported by the Federal agencies. Obligations for non-financial assistance programs indicate the administrative expenses involved in the operation of a program.
Account Identification
75-1536-0-1-506.
Note:
Note: This 11-digit budget account identification code represents the account which funds a particular program.
This code should be consistent with the code given for the program area as specified in Appendix III of the Budget of the United States Government.
Examples of funded projects...
Microenterprise business development, self-employment business training, specialized job training related to new businesses and/or a specific business expansion project that is designed to create full-time permanent jobs for eligible TANF and other low-income individuals to move them toward economic self-sufficiency, and non-traditional employment opportunities for women and minorities in the industries and businesses that currently represent twenty-five percent or less of that workforce.
About this section
This section indicates the different types of projects which have been funded in the past. Only projects funded under Project Grants or Direct Payments for Specified Use should be listed here. The examples give potential applicants an idea of the types of projects that may be accepted for funding. The agency should list at least five examples of the most recently funded projects.
Program accomplishments...
Ten grants were awarded in FY 2003. JOLI projects are awarded funds to: create new jobs for TANF recipients and other low-income individuals that will move them toward economic self-sufficiency through: self-employment/microenterprise business employment initiatives, new business ventures, or expansion of existing businesses through technical and financial assistance, and through non-traditional employment initiatives for women and minorities in the industries and businesses that currently represent twenty-five percent or less of that workforce.
Criteria for selecting proposals...
Selecting factors include: (1) organizational experience in program area and staff responsibilities; (2) analysis of need; (3) work program; (4) significant and beneficial impact; (5) third party evaluation; (6) public-private partnerships; and, (7) budget appropriateness and reasonableness.
Assistance considerations...
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grant awards are approved for up to a 3 year project period. The maximum grant for the full project and budget period is $500,000.
Formula and Matching Requirements
There is no requirement for matching Federal funds, however applicants are encouraged to share in the cost of projects and to mobilize other resources for project implementation. Cooperative letters of resource commitment are given special considered in the review of applications.
Note:
A formula may be based on population, per capita income, and other statistical factors. Applicants are informed whether there are any matching requirements to be met when participating in the cost of a project. In general, the matching share represents that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal government. Attachment F of OMB Circular No. A-102 (Office of Management and Budget) sets forth the criteria and procedures for the evaluation of matching share requirements which may be cash or in-kind contributions made by State and local governments or other agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals to satisfy matching requirements of Federal grants or loans.
Cash contributions represent the grantees' cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the grantee by other public agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals. When authorized by Federal regulation, Federal funds received from other grants may be considered as the grantees' cash contribution.
In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the grantee, other public agencies and institutions, private organizations or individuals. In-kind contributions may consist of charges for real property and equipment, and value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the grant program. When authorized by Federal legislation, property purchased with Federal funds may be considered as grantees' in-kind contribution.
Maintenance of effort (MOE) is a requirement contained in certain legislation, regulations, or administrative policies stating that a grantee must maintain a specified level of financial effort in a specific area in order to receive Federal grant funds, and that the Federal grant funds may be used only to supplement, not supplant, the level of grantee funds.
Post assistance requirements...
Reports
Required reporting includes: Semi-Annual Programmatic and Semi-Annual Fiscal reporting and Final program and fiscal reporting, which is a cumulative report for the total project operational period. All projects must include an independent, methodologically sound evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities carried out under the grant. Interim Project Evaluation reports must be submitted annually and a Final Project Evaluation report at the end of the project period. Evaluation reporting includes: project evaluation plan, annual evaluation reports, and a final cumulative evaluation report.
Note:
This section indicates whether program reports, expenditure reports, cash reports or performance monitoring are required by the Federal funding agency, and specifies at what time intervals (monthly, annually, etc.) this must be accomplished.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profit Organizations, Non-Federal entities that expend $300,000 ($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003) or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of this part. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $300,000 ($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003) a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in section .215(a), but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and General Accounting Office (GAO).
Note:
This section discusses audits required by the Federal agency.
The procedures and requirements for State and local governments and nonprofit entities are set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133.
These requirements pertain to awards made within the respective State's fiscal year - not the Federal fiscal year,
as some State and local governments may use the calendar year or other variation of time span designated as the fiscal year period,
rather than that commonly known as the Federal fiscal year (from October 1st through September 30th).
Records
Financial and other records of the grant are to be kept 3 years after the termination of the grant or until audited, whichever comes first.
Note:
This section indicates the record retention requirements and the type of records the Federal agency may require.
Not included are the normally imposed requirements of the General Accounting Office.
For programs falling under the purview of OMB Circular No. A-102, record retention is set forth in Attachment C.
For other programs, record retention is governed by the funding agency's requirements.
Regulations...
Authorization
Family Support Act of 1988, Section 505, Public Law 100-485, (42U.S.C. 1926) as amended, Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Section 112 Public Law 104-193.
Note:
This section lists the legal authority upon which a program is based (acts, amendments to acts, Public Law numbers, titles, sections, Statute Codes, citations to the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Presidential Reorganization Plans, and Memoranda from an agency head).
Regulations, Guidelines, And Literature
JOLI Program guidelines are published in the Federal Register. FY 2003 at 68 FR 40982 (7/9/2003). Estimated publication of the FY 2004 JOLI program announcement is late April 2004. Other information JOLI Program information is available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/index.html; Poverty Guidelines: http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/poverty/02poverty.htm; and Grants generally at: http://www.hhs.gov/grantsnet