$47 million available for YouthBuild Grants

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration will award approximately $47 million in YouthBuild Grants through a competitive process. These funds are to provide disadvantaged youth:

• Education and employment skills necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency in occupations in high demand
• Postsecondary education and training opportunities
• Opportunities for meaningful work and service to their communities
• Opportunities to develop employment and leadership skills and a commitment to community development among youth in low-income communities.

YouthBuild grantees will tap the energies and talents of disadvantaged youth to increase the supply of permanent affordable housing for homeless individuals and low-income families and to help youth develop the leadership, learning, and high-demand occupational skills needed to succeed in today's global economy.

Applicants can apply for three-year grants (two years of program operations with a 12 month follow-up period of support services and outcomes tracking) that will range from $700,000 to $1.1 million.

The Department of Labor hopes to serve approximately 2,900 youth participants during the first year of the grant, with projects operating in approximately 90 to 100 communities across the country. The grants will be awarded to organizations to oversee the provision of education and employment services to disadvantaged youth in their
communities.

Each applicant should indicate the proposed number of participants to be served based on an average annual cost of $15,000 to $18,000. The closing date for applications is Jan. 15, 2009. Click here for full background information, eligibility information, application requirements and evaluation criteria.