Ten grants were awarded in FY 2007. It is anticipated that the same number of grants will be awarded in FY 08.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funded projects must: (1) create new employment and/or business opportunities for TANF recipients and other low-income individuals; (2) enter into a cooperative agreement with the local TANF agency involving client referrals to the applicant project and supportive services for clients, and applicants are encouraged to establish a formal partnership with the local Child Support Enforcement (CSE) agency involving referrals of non-custodial parents to the applicant; (3) develop a comprehensive project design that describes: the work program and strategy; the participant training design; supportive services and counseling; technical assistance and financial assistance plan; access to business capital; and, follow-up participant support services; and, (4) include an independent, methodologically sound evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities in crating new jobs and/or business opportunities.

Funds awarded under this program cannot be used for 1)new construction, 2) the purchase of real property, 3) fundraising, 4) reimbursement of pre-award costs, 5) any project where the role of the applicant is primarily to serve as a conduit for funds to organizations other than the applicant, or 6) a previously funded grantee to carry out the same project in the same geographic area.

A minimum of 20 percent of the funds must be used for the provision of loans or other financial assistance to program participants.

Grantee's applicable costs and administrative procedures will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR Part 74.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Only nonprofit organizations (including community development corporations, faith based, charitable, and tribal organizations) that are tax-exempt under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by reason of paragraph (3) or (4) of section 501(c) of such Code are eligible to apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Only recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits and any other individual, whose income level does not exceed 100 percent of the official poverty guidelines, as published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, can be served under this program. Emphasis is placed on serving individuals who are TANF recipients, homeless, unemployed, non-custodial parents, reside in public housing or receive housing assistance.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants must include with the application written evidence of the local TANF agency's willingness to enter a cooperative agreement. Applicants are strongly encouraged to include with the application written evidence of a partnership with the local CSE agency. All non-profit organizations (including community development corporations, faith based, charitable, and tribal organizations) must include with the application written proof of tax-exempt status under 501(c) (3) or (4) of Internal Revenue Code 0f 1986.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.

12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Program".

If the applicant's State has selected the program for review, the applicant should consult the office or the official designated as the Single Point of Contact in his or her State to obtain more information involving State requirements on the process to be followed in applying for assistance.

Application Procedures

All information and forms required to prepare a grant are published in the Federal Register and www.grants.gov website.

Award Procedures

Official notice of approved grant applications is made through issuance of a Financial Assistance Award. Official notice of an accepted application proposal is made through award of a grant.

Deadlines

All information and application forms required to prepare a application are at www.grants.gov.

Authorization

Family Support Act of 1988, Section 505, Public Law 100-485, (42 U.S.C. 1926) as amended, Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Section 112, Public Law 104-193.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Generally, solicited grants will be acted upon within 90-120 days.

Appeals

Appeals are processed in accordance with HHS regulations in 45 CFR Part 16.

Renewals

Not applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

There is no requirement for matching Federal funds. Applicants are however, encouraged to share in the cost of projects and to mobilize other resources for project implementation. Cooperative letters of resource commitment are given special considered in the review of applications.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grant awards are approved for up to a 3 year budget and project period. The maximum grant for the full project and budget period is $475,000.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Required reporting includes: Semi-Annual Programmatic and Semi-Annual Fiscal reporting and Final program and fiscal reporting, which is a cumulative report for the total project operational period.

All projects must include an independent, methodologically sound evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities carried out under the grant.

Interim Project Evaluation reports must be submitted annually and a Final Project Evaluation report at the end of the project period.

Evaluation reporting includes: project evaluation plan, annual evaluation reports, and a final cumulative evaluation report.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profit Organizations, Non-Federal entities that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of this part. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in section .215(a), but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and General Accounting Office (GAO).

Records

Financial and other records of the grant are to be kept 3 years after the termination of the grant or until audited, whichever comes first.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obigations

(Grants) FY 07 $5,382,000; FY 08 $5,288,000; and FY 09 est not available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

In FY 2007, the Maximum award is $500,000, Ten grants were awarded in FY 2008, the Maximum award is $475,000; 10 to 12 grant awards are anticipated.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

The JOLI Program Announcement information is available at: www.grants.gov; and The Poverty Guidelines are available at: http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/poverty/index.shtm1.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Not applicable.

Headquarters Office

Rafael J. Elizalde, Team Leader, Division of Community Discretionary Programs, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: (202) 401-5115; E-mail: rafael.elizalde@acf.hhs.gov.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Specific criteria for selecting proposals for funding are stated in each program announcement.