Illinois Administrative Code › Title 56 - LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT › Part 2660 - JOB TRAINING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM › Subpart A - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS › Section 2660.80 - Barrier Reduction Funding

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
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.