Workforce Innovation Fund
The Department of Labor fosters and promotes the welfare of job seekers, wage earners and retirees by improving their working conditions, advancing their opportunities, protecting their retirement and health benefits and generally protecting worker rights and monitoring national economic measures.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds can be used for a broad range of activities.
Please see the grant solicitation for specific allowable activities.
Restrictions are established by law and through the grant solicitation.
All of the Workforce Innovation Fund grants are discretionary.
They will be awarded through a competitive process.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible institutions are: (i) State Workforce Agencies; (ii) Local Workforce Investment Boards; (iii) entities eligible to apply for WIA Section 166 grants; (iv) consortia of State Workforce Agencies; (v) consortia of Local Workforce Investment Boards; and (vi) consortia of entities eligible to apply for WIA Section 166 grants.
Beneficiary Eligibility
The scope of potential beneficiaries under these programs can be very broad. Please review the Solicitation for Grant Application for specific requirements.
Credentials/Documentation
Generally grantees must demonstrate an adequate organizational capacity, both fiscally and programmatically, and strong proposed plans for implementing their project. Applicants should review the Solicitation for Grant Applications for specific requirements. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. OMB Circulars No. A-87, A-122, and A-133 apply to this program. Grants for projects are awarded on a competitive basis, announced in Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGAs) in the Federal Register and also on ETA"s Internet Web site at http://www.doleta.gov. To compete for a grant, eligible applicants develop a proposal and budget. The SGA provides all of the necessary information for applying for federal assistance.
Award Procedures
Procedures are specified in the Solicitation for Grant Applications. Generally, the procedure is as follows: A technical review panel composed of federal staff and peer reviewers evaluates eligible submitted applications. The panel prepares a report for the ETA Grant Officer identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each application and the cumulative rating. Selections are made based on the best rated proposals, as well as other factors as cited in the SGA. Once selections are made by the Grant Officer, an Award Notification is sent through the appropriate congressional channels for notification. After awardees are notified, the list of awardees is posted on the ETA website at www.doleta.gov. If an application is rejected, a letter is sent to the applicant as notification that they were not selected as a recipient of the grant.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011, Title VIII, Section 1801, Public Law 112-10.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 90 to 120 days. ETA announces grant recipients once the paneling process is complete (see above).
Appeals
Procedures are specified in the applicable Solicitation for Grant Application.
Renewals
Renewals with funds are not available. However, with significant justification ETA may elect to exercise its option to award no-cost extensions to these grants for an additional period at its own discretion, based on the success of the program and other relevant factors.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Most projects last approximately 3 years. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
No program reports are required.
No cash reports are required.
Quarterly progress reports are required within 45 days following the end of the quarter.
Quarterly financial reports are required within 45 days following the end of the quarter.
Annual performance reports are required within 45 days following the end of each project year.
Final progress reports are required no later than 90 days after all grant funds have been expended, or the period of grant funds availability has expired.
Regional Federal Project Officers conduct monitoring using risk assessments, desk monitoring, and on-site reviews.
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," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Recipients are required to maintain books, records, documents, and other evidence of accounting procedures and practices sufficient to reflect properly all direct and indirect costs claimed to have been incurred for the performance of the grant. Records are to be retained for three years from the date of final payment unless the grant officer authorizes earlier disposal.
Financial Information
Account Identification
16-0174-0-1-504.
Obigations
(Project Grants) FY 12 $147,000,000; FY 13 est $23,000,000; and FY 14 est $100,000,000 - P.L. 112-10 appropriated $125 million for the Workforce Innovation Fund. About 95% of the appropriated amount will be awarded through competitive grants, and the remainder will be used by the Department of Labor to provide technical assistance and evaluate grantee projects.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
See SGA when published.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Not Applicable.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices.
Headquarters Office
Gina King Wells 200 Constitution Ave, NW, S4209, Washington, District of Columbia 20210. Email: wells.gina@dol.gov Phone: 202-693-3763
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
See SGA.
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