Job
Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals
The
Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) program
helps low-income individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Grantees assist participants in overcoming the identified personal
and systemic barriers to employment, job retention and self-sufficiency.
Grantees
may use their JOLI program funding to provide technical and
financial assistance to private employers in the community to
assist them in creating employment and business opportunities
for low-income individuals. Grantees may also create a revolving
loan fund and make at or below market rate loans to eligible
beneficiaries for business development activities. Interest
accrued on revolving loan funds must be used to continue or
expand the activities of the approved project.
In
order to assure the maximum impact on job creation, grantees
establish and maintain a formal, cooperative relationship with
the designated local agency responsible for administering the
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program in the
area served by the project. Grantees also attempt to integrate
their projects with the larger economic development strategy
within the target communities.
Grants
are awarded through a competitive process to non-profit organizations
having 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) status with the Internal Revenue
Service. Institutions of higher education are excluded from
the process. Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply
for this program.
The
JOLI program provides discretionary funds for projects designed
to create employment and business opportunities for individuals
receiving TANF assistance and other low-income individuals.
Grantees may focus their projects on four different strategy
areas:
-
Business expansion;
-
Self-employment and micro-enterprises;
-
New ventures; and
-
Non-traditional employment for women and minorities.
