YOUTHBUILD GRANTS

Grant: YouthBuild Grants
Agency: U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
Division: Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
Deadline: The deadline was March 19, 2013.

Description: YouthBuild is a youth and community development program that simultaneously addresses several core issues facing low-income communities: housing, education, employment, crime prevention and leadership development. Grants will be awarded to organizations to oversee the provision of education, occupational skills training and employment services to disadvantaged youth in their communities. YouthBuild grantees will tap the energies and talents of disadvantaged youth to increase the supply of permanent affordable housing for homeless individuals and low-income families and to help youth develop the leadership, learning and high-demand occupational skills needed to succeed in today’s global economy.

Funds from this program will be used to carry out a YouthBuild program with the following core objectives:

• Enable disadvantaged youth to obtain the education and employment skills necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency in occupations in demand and post-secondary education and training opportunities.
• Provide disadvantaged youth with opportunities for meaningful work and service to their communities.
• Foster the development of employment, occupational, and leadership skills and commitment to community development among youth in low-income communities.
• Expand the supply of permanent affordable housing for homeless individuals and low-income families by utilizing the energies and talents of disadvantaged youth.

The YouthBuild model balances in-school learning and occupational skills training that prepare at-risk youth for career placement. The in-school component is an alternative education program that assists youth who are often significantly behind in basic skills to obtain the goal of a high school diploma or GED credential. The occupational skills training component prepares at risk youth to achieve the goal of career placement, and also supports the goal of increasing affordable housing by teaching youth construction skills learned by building or significantly renovating homes for low-income or homeless families or individuals.

New applicants for DOL funding must demonstrate success with core construction skills training, a central focus of the overall philosophy of the YouthBuild program.

Fit for public broadcasting: Public broadcasting stations are eligible to apply for this grant. Because all YouthBuild applicants must demonstrate that they have relationships and partnerships with organizations in the community they’re serving, it may also be possible for stations to partner with other youth-focused community organizations. Workforce development, education and job training are integral components of this program, so stations with expertise in training programs and GED preparation courses are well situated to do the work this program requires.

Eligibility: Eligible applicants for these grants are public or private non-profit agencies or organizations (including a consortium of such agencies or organizations with a designated lead applicant).

Anticipated funding: Applicants can apply for three-year grants up to $1.1 million. These awards will support two years of core program operations (education, occupational skills training and youth leadership development activities) plus an additional nine to 12 months of follow-up support services and tracking of participant outcomes for each cohort of youth. ETA intends to fund approximately 75 grants.

Applicants must provide cash or in-kind resources equivalent to 25 percent of the grant award amount as matching funds.

How to apply: Applications may be submitted electronically on Grants.gov or in hard copy by mail or hand delivery. Online submission requires registration, a process that usually takes three to five business days but can take as long as four weeks. Be sure to visit Grants.gov and begin registering well in advance of the grant deadline.

Resources:
Program Notice
Program Website
U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration website
2011 YouthBuild Awardees