Project Requirements

All projects funded under the JOLI program must enter into a cooperative relationship with the local State agency responsible for administering the TANF Program funded under Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act. Projects must hire an independent third party evaluator to evaluate methodologically the effectiveness of the activities carried out under the project. All projects are encouraged to enter into a formal partnership with the local Child Support Enforcement Agency.

All projects are required to allot a minimum of twenty percent of the JOLI funds received for the provision of financial assistance to participants.  Financial assistance may be provided through the creation of a revolving loan fund for the provision of  business loans to micro-enterprise/self-employed business owners; and/or the provision of direct cash assistance (i.e., start-up funds, temporary salary payment) to micro-enterprise/self-employed business owners.

Funding Restrictions

Grant awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs.

Fundraising is not an allowable cost under this program.

Construction and purchase of real property are not allowable activities or expenditures under this grant award.

OCS will not fund any project where the role of the applicant is primarily to serve as a conduit for funds to organizations other than the applicant.  The applicant must have a substantive role in the implementation of the project for which funding is requested. This prohibition does not bar the making of sub-grants or sub-contracting for specific services or activities needed to conduct the project. 

OCS will not provide funding to a previously funded grantee to carry out the same project in the same geographic area.