Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Introduction:

In December 2003, the White House Task Force for Disadvantaged Youth recommended the transfer of the YouthBuild program from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the Department of Labor (DOL). On September 22, 2006, President George W. Bush signed the YouthBuild Transfer Act into law (Public Law 109-281). The bill transfers the YouthBuild program to DOL and makes modifications and improvements to the program. The bill amends the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) by adding a new section 173A to subtitle D of title I of WIA. [29 USC 2918a]

Below are Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the transfer of the YouthBuild program to DOL. Additional questions may be submitted to youth.build@dol.gov or mailed to the Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce Investment, Division of Youth Services, Room N4511, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20210. The FAQs will be updated frequently and posted on www.doleta.gov/youth_services.

1. Who is responsible for the federal administration of the YouthBuild program?

The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) will administer the YouthBuild program beginning in FY 2007. Grants awarded prior to Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 will continue to be monitored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) until the authority to expend these funds has expired.

2. How will the FY 2007 YouthBuild program funds be dispersed?

DOL intends to fund YouthBuild program activities via federal assistance grants to grantees selected on a competitive basis in accordance with criteria published in Solicitation for Grant Application (SGA).

3. When will the YouthBuild SGA for FY 2007 funds be announced?

DOL plans to announce the YouthBuild SGA between February -- April 2007.

4. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include public or private nonprofit agencies or organizations (including a consortium of such agencies or organizations), including:

• Faith-based and community-based organizations;
• Entities carrying out activities under title I of WIA, including Workforce Investment Boards as defined under the WIA
• Community action agencies
• State or local housing development agencies
• Indian tribes or other agencies primarily serving Indians
• Community development corporations
• State or local youth service or conservation corps
• Any other entity eligible to provide education or employment training under a Federal program.

5. When will the YouthBuild program application period end?

We expect that applicants for YouthBuild grant funds will have approximately 90 days from the date DOL publishes the SGA to submit an application.

6. When will YouthBuild awards be announced?

DOL anticipates making awards prior to the start of the 2007 school year, which begins August 2007.

7. Will applicants be required to use the electronic grants system for submitting grant applications?

Yes. DOL uses www.grants.gov (e-grants) for grant applications and will use it for the YouthBuild SGA.

8. Will there be an opportunity to comment on the operational and programmatic aspects of the YouthBuild program as administered by DOL?

Yes. The Department has scheduled two open meetings and will host a Webinar to discuss the transfer of the YouthBuild program and key programmatic issues. The meetings will be held on November 30 in Los Angeles, CA and on December 6 in Pittsburgh, PA. Additional information and online registration for these meetings can be accessed through our Web site which is located at www.doleta.gov/youth_services. All attendees will be required to complete a free registration. The Webinar will be held on December 13 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Additional information on the Webinar can be found at www.workforce3one.org. In addition, we intend to offer the public the opportunity to submit written comments. We expect that a Federal Register Notice announcing the opportunity will be published in the near future. We plan to make a summary of all comments available to the public on the Employment and Training Administration’s Web site at www.doleta.gov.

9. Will DOL be issuing regulations for the YouthBuild program?

Yes. We expect to issue new regulations governing the YouthBuild program under the authority of section 189 of WIA [29 USC 2939(a)].

10. How will grants be monitored?

Grants oversight and monitoring will be provided by staff in ETA’s six Regional Offices in close collaboration with the Office of Workforce Investment’s Division of Youth Services.

11. What is the regional office structure for ETA?

ETA has regional offices in the following six locations and each manages programs and grants in their respective states:

• Region 1 - Boston: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virgin Islands
• Region 2 - Philadelphia: Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C.
• Region 3 - Atlanta: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
• Region 4 - Dallas: Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
• Region 5 - Chicago: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
• Region 6 - San Francisco: Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, American Samoa, Saipan-CNMI, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, and Territory of Guam.

Reporting requirements include quarterly submission of the SF-269 (financial status report), a quarterly narrative report, and quarterly performance outcome measures. All reporting is done electronically. DOL utilizes the Common Measures for reporting performance. The Common Measures for Youth programs include:

• Placement in Employment or Education
• Attainment of a Degree or Certificate
• Literacy and Numeracy Gains

For more information on the Common Measures, please see Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 17-05 “Common Measures Policy for the Employment and Training Administration’s (ETA) Performance Accountability System and Related Performance Issues, April 11, 2006,” which is located at: http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2195#content.

13. How did the YouthBuild Transfer Act change the YouthBuild program?

1. To 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;
2. To provide disadvantaged youth with opportunities for meaningful work and service to communities;
3. To foster the development of employment and leadership skills and commitment to community development among youth in low-income communities; and
4. To 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 Transfer Act places greater emphasis on post-secondary transitions for participants and stronger linkages with the One-Stop Career Center System, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. YouthBuild grantees will need to be knowledgeable about local labor market needs in order to prepare youth for employment in the high-growth, high-demand construction industry and other industries.