The Women’s Bureau (WB), U. S. Department of Labor (DOL, or the Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $ 1. 25 million in grant funds authorized by 29 U.S.C.
§ 13 and the 2015 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, for the Women’s Bureau Paid Leave
Analysis grant program.
This program is intended to support research and analysis needed to explore, develop, implement and/or improve paid family and medical leave programs at the State and municipal1 levels, as well as in U. S. Territories and Possessions and federally recognized Indian/Native American Tribes.
Specifically, the research and analysis activities must fall into one or more of the following five categories:
• Statistical analysis, such as cost-benefit or actuarial studies; • Feasibility analysis; • Economic-impact analysis; • Financing, eligibility and benefit modeling; and • Education, outreach and marketing analysis for implementation purposes.
To be eligible for funds under this grant program, an applicant MUST be a government entity from one of the following levels of government:
State; County; City or Township; U. S. Territory or Possession; or federally recognized Indian/Native American Tribe.
In addition, the applicant’s jurisdiction MUST have an estimated population of at least 100,000 residents.2 Satisfaction of these criteria will be verified prior to award.
Up to ten (10) grants of no more than $250,000 each will be awarded.
Selection of grantees will be determined based on the strength of the proposal and on other factors, such as the geographic distribution of funds.
Applicants must:
• Present a clear description of the research and analysis activities they intend to conduct and identify the anticipated deliverables from such activities; • Explain how such activities and deliverables will advance their efforts to explore, develop, implement and/or improve a paid family and medical leave program within their jurisdiction; • Provide an estimate as to the number of individuals potentially eligible to benefit from the program under study; and • Outline a solid financial infrastructure that demonstrates proper resource management.
Applicants must also commit to sharing any knowledge and promising practices gleaned from their research and analysis with non-participating jurisdictions at forthcoming events.
Finally, the Department is committed to producing strong evidence on the effectiveness of its grant programs and full participation (by grantee and any sub-grantees or sub-contractors) in any evaluation initiated by the Department is a condition of all grant awards.