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.
