Section 2660.80  Barrier Reduction Funding

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.