DC Youth and Young Adult Update 10-11-2024

By NYEC | October 11, 2024

 

 

News at NYEC: 

  • Join the National Youth Employment Coalition’s 2025 Annual Forum- Empowering Youth, Transforming Communities, in Minneapolis, MN, from May 12-14, 2025! This event will gather practitioners, youth advocates, and community leaders to explore key topics like youth leadership, holistic supports, living wage employment, and policy & advocacy. 
  • WIOA Programs can Help Participants Register to Vote: As we approach the 2024 election, NYEC wants to remind its members that the Department of Labor (DOL) issued guidance in 2022 sharing that programs receiving WIOA funds may engage in voter registration activities. Specifically, DOL stated that the following partners of American Job Centers may engage in such activities: WIOA Title I Youth, YouthBuild, Indian and Native American, National Farmworker, and Reentry Employment Opportunities programs and Job Corps operators.  

Legislative Branch: 

Executive Branch: 

Federal Funding Opportunities: 

  • SBA Grant: Microloan Program – National Training Conference: Grants are intended to be awarded to experienced microlending organizations and national and regional nonprofit organizations that have demonstrated experience in providing training support for microenterprise development to assist SBA in conducting a national training conference for Intermediaries participating in the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloan Program to ensure that such Intermediaries have the knowledge, skills, and understanding of microlending practice necessary to operate successful SBA microloan programs. Applications are due November 8, 2024.   

Previously Shared 

  • HUD Grant: Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing: Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) empowers communities that are actively taking steps to remove barriers to affordable housing and seeking to increase housing production and lower housing costs over the long term. Applications due October 15, 2024. 
  • National Rural Transit Assistance Program: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $3,250,723 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Rural Transportation Assistance Program funds through a competitive cooperative agreement award. FTA is soliciting proposals under the agency’s Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program to select an entity to administer a National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP). The National RTAP will carry out activities to design and implement training and technical assistance projects and other support services tailored to meet the specific needs of transit operators in rural areas, including tribal transit services. Applications due November 12, 2024. 
  • High School Equivalency Program: The HEP is designed to assist migratory or seasonal farmworkers (or immediate family members of such workers) to obtain the equivalent of a secondary school diploma and subsequently to gain improved employment, enter military service, or be placed in an institution of higher education (IHE) or other postsecondary education or training. Applications will be available on September 3, 2024 and will close November 15, 2024. 
  • DOL Grant: Workforce Pathways for Youth – Rounds 4 and 5: The applicant must be a national OST non-profit (501(c)(3)) organization, that proposes to serve youth that have been historically underserved and marginalized.  For purposes of this funding announcement, a national organization is defined as an organization that has affiliates operating in at least three states. Applications are due December 3rd, 2024. 
  • Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 AmeriCorps State and National Competitive Grants: AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations that engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions to strengthen communities. AmeriCorps members may receive a living allowance and other benefits. After successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans. Applications are due by January 23, 2025. 
  • Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant: The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant programs provide funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. Applications are due June 30, 2025. 

From The States: 

  • Delaware: Delaware’s new Smart Transfer Enrollment Program (STEP Path™) helps apprenticeship graduates turn their valuable experience into college credit at Wilmington University (WilmU). No matter where you are in your apprenticeship journey, STEP Path™ can help. Whether you’re just starting out, currently in a program, or a seasoned journey person, your hard work can count towards a college degree. STEP Path™ recognizes the skills and knowledge you’ve gained, allowing you to build on your existing foundation. Earn credits that can be applied to various WilmU programs, including those related to technical instruction and apprenticeships. STEP Path™ is designed to support all past and current apprenticeship graduates in advancing their careers through higher education. 
  • Illinois: Over 500 Chicagoland high school students got a taste of the exciting equipment industry at a special event hosted by the AED Foundation and SkillsUSA Illinois.  Students not only gained hands-on experience with equipment, but also practiced their interview skills and connected with potential employers and unions. This federally-funded initiative aims to inspire the next generation of skilled workers and address the growing need for talent in the equipment industry. 

For The Youth: 

  • Grant Writing for Young People: Join the Innovation Institute’s “Bootstrapping and Grant Writing” webinar and discover how to fund your entrepreneurial dreams. This session will teach you how to learn effective strategies for leveraging your personal resources to get your business off the ground. The Institute will guide you through the ins and outs of finding and securing grants, giving you the tools to win funding. Whether you’re a solopreneur or part of a small team, this webinar provides the essential knowledge you need to fuel your startup journey and achieve your goals without external funding pressure. 

Resources:  

  • How Young People Have Saved The Frederick County Economy: The City of Frederick, Maryland, is investing in its young people and its future with the launch of youth apprenticeship programs. These programs offer a powerful pathway for youth to apprenticeships and provide competitive wages while gaining valuable on-the-job training and experience. Apprenticeships equip young people with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today’s workforce. By connecting youth with meaningful career opportunities, these programs can create a brighter future for individuals and their families. Investing in youth apprenticeships helps create a more resilient and sustainable local economy. City leaders recognize that youth apprenticeships are a win-win solution. They help address economic inequality, provide employers with skilled workers, and reduce youth unemployment – all vital steps towards building a thriving community. 
  • Non-Profits & The Business Community & How They Can Partner for Young People: In today’s ESG-driven business landscape, corporations are increasingly seeking partnerships with nonprofits. However, many companies struggle to identify the most effective ways to collaborate. While corporate giving and CSR programs are common starting points, there are significant untapped opportunities for deeper engagement. Nonprofits can provide valuable support in launching new products, particularly those with a social impact component. Collaborating with a nonprofit’s established network can open new markets and distribution channels for a company’s products or services. Nonprofits can act as facilitators, bringing together companies with shared goals to create powerful coalitions that drive positive change. This report highlights numerous other ways that the public and private sector can collaborate.

 

 

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