I.Purpose
To provide the eligibility requirements and application
procedure for National Dislocated Worker Grants (NDWG), and to assist local
workforce development areas (local areas) in policy development and service
provision for the implementation of these grants. This policy letter applies to
all NDWG categories except for Emergency/Disaster Relief, for which policy guidance
can be found in a separate policy letter.
II.Effective
Date
Immediately
III.Rescission
ODJFS, Workforce Investment Act Policy Letter No. 09-11,
National Emergency Grants (NEGs), (July 8, 2010).
IV.Background
National Dislocated Worker Grants are discretionary awards
issued by the Department of Labor for states to respond to large, unexpected
layoff events causing significant job losses.
Specific categories of NDWGs include:
Layoff NDWGs – Qualifying events
for layoff NDWGs include single company dislocations of 50 or more workers (in
which smaller layoffs caused by the primary layoff are also eligible under the
same grant), industry-wide layoffs of 50 or more workers, or a series of multiple
small dislocations occurring over a period of 12 months that amount to at least
50 impacted workers.
Dislocated Service Member NDWGs –
These grants may provide assistance to areas where demand for WIOA services
from dislocated military service members exceeds what state and local resources
can provide. To qualify, administrative data must be provided that shows
increased unemployment levels among veterans in the local area over the past
year, or there must be at least 50 veterans in the local area that are within
48 months of separation.
Trade Impacted Worker NDWGs –
These grants provide dislocated workers who are certified as eligible for Trade
Adjustment Assistance (TAA) with WIOA services in cases where such services are
not available through the TAA program and cannot be provided with WIOA formula
funds. Qualification requires 50 or more impacted workers from a layoff event
in which at least one impacted worker group is TAA-eligible.
Disaster Recovery NDWGs – This
policy does not apply to Disaster NDWGs; guidance on this NDWG category can be
found in a separate policy letter.
Other – Any new or revised NDWG
categories will be described in future policy guidance.
Services permissible under NDWG provision include basic and
individualized career services, training services, supportive services, and
needs-related payments. Allowable service activities are listed under Section
134 of WIOA. Grants may specify minimum and maximum spending requirements on
specific services; directors will be notified of these restrictions when the
grant is issued.
Additionally, these grants are opportunities to pilot innovative
services and activities not listed in Section 134 of WIOA. Examples include
transition centers, peer counselors, and labor management committees.
V.State
Requirements
The state is responsible for submitting all NDWG applications on
behalf of one or more local WDBs. If DOL issues a grant to the state, the award
amount will likely only be a portion of the requested amount. Successful
expenditure of at least 70% of the initial award will allow the state to
request additional funding up to the amount approved by DOL. If the project
operator does not expend the initial allocation, funds may be taken away and
reallocated to the other project operators.
ODJFS will serve as the grantee and pass-through entity for
grant funds. Upon receiving grant funding, ODJFS will:
- Provide technical assistance to participating
local areas;
- Prepare and submit a project implementation plan
to DOL within 60 days of receipt of the grant award, along with a full
application if the qualifying layoff event is classified as an “emergency”;
- Conduct monitoring of local areas to review
eligibility, expenditures, and operations; and
- Submit required program and fiscal reports and
grant modifications to USDOL, including requests for additional funding.
VI.Local
Workforce Development Area Requirements
Local areas will need to provide detailed information to support
the NDWG application.
A.Application
Process
Timing of Application –
Applications for Layoff NDWGs should be submitted within 120 days of a
qualifying layoff event. Eligibility begins upon notification of layoff, or the
date of the layoff itself. Layoff NDWGs can be submitted with “emergency”
status if the qualifying layoff event occurred without notice to the workers.
In this event, an application must be submitted within 15 days, in addition to
a full application submitted within sixty business days of the date of the
award.
Items to Include – The NDWG
application may include a detailed description of: local area grant needs and
services, the type of NDWG being requested, workforce area information
including services currently being provided and impacted locations, plans for
the determination of participant and service eligibility, plans for outreach
and co-enrollment in other programs, budget justification, project operator and
fiscal agent names and contact information, and the processing of layoff event
data. ODJFS will provide a plan template to local areas participating in the NDWG.
Application Review – When a
request is submitted to ODJFS, the Office of Workforce Development (OWD) will
review the information with an emphasis on, but not limited to:
WIOA dislocated worker formula fund expenditures;
- rapid response fund expenditures;
- statewide (discretionary) fund expenditures; and
- each local area's progress towards attaining
WIOA performance standards and expenditure rate.
ODJFS will review the submitted information and additional
documents requested and use this information to complete and submit the NDWG
application.
Award Notification – The United
States Department of Labor (USDOL) issues its funding decision within 45
calendar days of receipt of a valid application. If the application is
approved, ODJFS will notify the participating local areas of their sub-grant
award amounts.
Incremental Funding – Additional
funds are awarded on an incremental basis. Provision of additional funding is
based on demonstrated needs, evidenced by the number of participants and
expenditures accrued. Supplemental funding may be requested once expenditures
surpass 70 percent of the total NDWG funds awarded. Additionally, ODJFS may cut
unobligated grant funds at their discretion.
B. Local
Implementation Plan
Within the first 60 days of the grant period or as needed, the
local area will submit a local implementation plan based on a template provided
by ODJFS. The plan should include: a line item budget, identification and
justification of any equipment required, local policies for relevant supportive
services, a description of local area monitoring procedures, and a comprehensive
staffing plan with job titles, wages, and benefits by position. The local area
must notify ODJFS and submit a revised plan when modifications to these
components are necessary.
C.Participant
Eligibility
Any dislocated worker (pursuant to the provisions in WIOAPL
15-02) is eligible for grant services. Additional persons eligible for grant
services are:
- previously self-employed individuals;
- temporary or contract workers impacted by a
plant closure or layoff; or
- certain individuals that have served National
Guard active duty as described under WIOA section 170(c)(2)(A)(iv).
Governors and local WDBs have the authority to establish
policies and procedures for frontline staff to determine dislocated worker eligibility.
The definition of dislocated worker can be found in WIOA section 3(15).
VI.Reporting
The local area must report grant participants and services in
the state’s designated case management reporting system under the special grant
office created for the grant.
Costs of services, including accruals and obligations, must be
updated at the sub-area level every two weeks in the state’s designated
financial reporting system using the project code established for the grant.
All expenditures must be supported with acceptable documentation, including
timesheets signed by a supervisor for payroll costs.
VII.Monitoring
Participating local areas that issue NDWG subawards must assess
the risk of non-compliance of each subrecipient and develop monitoring policies
outlining the procedures, frequency, and methods for assuring that grant-funded
services carried out by the subrecipient are compliant, and for resolving any
findings of non-compliance.
Through the state’s monitoring system, ODJFS program and fiscal
monitors will review the local area’s NDWG implementation (including
participant file review and evaluation of actual expenditures) during the
monitoring review of the local area for compliance with federal and state laws,
guidance letters including this guidance letter, and applicable
regulations. Any findings will be addressed through the state’s
monitoring resolution process.
VIII. Technical
Assistance
For additional information, contact the Office of Workforce
Development at WIOAQNA@JFS.OHIO.GOV.
IX.References
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, §§ 134 and 170, Pub.
L. 113-128.
2 C.F.R. Part 200, and 20 C.F.R. §§ 683.215, 683.275-280,
683.295, 687.
USDOL, Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 02-15, Operational
Guidance for National Dislocated Worker Grants, pursuant to the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA or Opportunity Act), (July 1, 2015).
ODJFS, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Policy Letter
No. 15-02, Adult and Dislocated Worker Eligibility (July 15, 2015)
ODJFS, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Policy Letter
No. 17-06, Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grants (June 26, 2018).