Native American Employment and Training

To support employment and training services for Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian individuals in order to develop more fully the academic, occupational, and literacy skills of such individuals; to make such individuals more competitive in the workforce and to equip them with the entrepreneurial skills necessary for successful self-employment; and to promote the economic and social development of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian communities in accordance with the goals and values of such communities. All programs assisted under this section shall be administered in a manner consistent with the principles of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) and the government-to-government relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribal governments. Supplemental youth funding is also awarded to help low-income Native American youth and Native Hawaiian youth, between the ages of 14 and 24, acquire the educational and occupational skills needed to achieve academic and employment success and transition to careers and productive adulthood.

Federally-recognized Indian Tribal Governments, bands or groups, Alaska Native villages or groups (as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 43 U.S.C. 1602(b)), Native Hawaiian organizations meeting the eligibility criteria, and Native American Organizations (public bodies or private nonprofit agencies) are selected by the Secretary on a competitive basis. Tribes, bands, and groups may also form consortia in order to qualify for designation as a grantee. Detailed requirements for consortium grantee applicants are set forth in the WIOA Final Rule at 684.200(e). Supplemental funding is automatically awarded to Federal Recognized Tribes and Tribal consortiums selected through the competitive process. However, there a few exceptions in which non-profit entities receive youth funds. Youth funds are also based on a funding formula and is restricted to Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian youth living on or near reservations, OTSA areas in Oklahoma, Alaskan villages and the state of Hawaii.

Eligibility requirements for the adult program are provided in the WIOA Final Rule at 684.300. To be eligible for services under the adult program, Individuals must meet the definition of an Indian, as determined by a policy of the Native American grantee. American Indians are generally considered members (or descendants) of federally- recognized Indian tribes, bands, and groups or members of well-established state recognized tribes such as, but not limited to, the Homa Indians in Louisiana. Applicants must also be low-income according to HHS poverty income guidelines, or unemployed, or underemployed, or the recipient of a bona fide lay-off notice or an individual who is employed, but is determined by the grantee to be in need of employment and training services to obtain or retain employment that allows for self-sufficiency. Eligibility requirements for the youth program are provided in the WIOA Final Rule at 684.430. To be eligible for services under the youth program, individuals must meet the definition of an Indian, as determined by a policy of the Native American grantee and must be between the ages of 14 and 24 and live on or near a reservation or in OTSA areas of Oklahoma or Alaska Native Villages or ANRC areas in Alaska, or the State of Hawaii and are low income. 684.130 of the Final Rule for WIOA provides the definition of a "high-poverty" area. If applicable Section 129(a)(2)) of WIOA allows youth living in a "high poverty" area to be considered, male applicants also must register or be registered for the Selective Service in order to be eligible for the adult or the youth program. WIOA provides for an exception that allows up to five percent of the youth participants during a program year to be placed on the youth program and not have to meet the low-income requirement.

Grants will be made directly to eligible grantees for their service areas.

Contact the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce Investment, DINAP office for application deadlines (202) 693-3737.