Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities

Guidance is provided to Local Workforce Development Areas through written state policies. Existing workforce development system policies will be modified to reflect WIOA requirements and strategies during the first year of implementation of this plan. Current policies can be found at http://www.KANSASWORKSstateboard.org as described in the policy statement below:

Kansas Department of Commerce is required to provide certain statewide activities using WIOA funds reserved for such purpose. In the event there is a surplus of funds after providing the required statewide activities, Commerce may consider additional activities as provided for in Sections 129 and 134 of WIOA. To assure consistent, objective determination for awarding funds reserved for statewide workforce development activities as provided in WIOA Sec. 128(a)(1), the following procedure will be used.

Priority Recipients: The following entities may be granted WIOA funds reserved for statewide workforce development activities and shall be considered by the following rank.

1. Local Workforce Development Boards
2. WIOA Core Partners
3. WIOA Required Partners
4. Community-based 501 (c)(3) organizations serving job seekers having one or more of the barriers defined by WIOA
5. Other community-based 501 (c)(3) organizations

Priority Projects: The following types of projects may be granted WIOA reserve funds and shall be considered by the following rank.

1. Service delivery strategies for effectively serving individuals with barriers to employment
2. Coordinating programs and services among one-stop partners
3. Projects identified by WIOA Workforce Services as timely, emergent and necessary to improve performance or other outcomes of the state workforce system or local workforce system(s)
4. Innovative service delivery strategies
5. Demonstration Projects for any WIOA-eligible sub-population
6. Staff Development and/or Cross-System Staff Training
7. Capacity-building strategies for Core Partners
8. Capacity-building strategies for Required Partners
9. Business services improvement and/or outreach
10. Other topics determined by system needs

Other Projects: The following projects may be considered for WIOA Set Aside funding but only if all projects meeting Priority requirements are fully funded.

1. Implementing innovative programs and strategies designed to meet the needs of all employers (including small employers) in the State, including Incumbent Worker training
2. Career Pathway development with both industry and post-secondary partners
3. Establishment of credit for prior knowledge, skills, competencies and experience
4. Development of common intake procedures and related activities
5. Research specific to certain populations, interventions or Career Services
6. Development of Pay for Performance models
7. Other activities as requested by Commerce

Eligible entities must provide a project proposal using the following format:

SOLICITATION FOR GRANT APPLICATION (SGA)

TO: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Local Area Workforce Development Boards, Public Not-for-Profit Organizations with 501(c)3 status; public or private schools, unified school districts, community and technical colleges; other interested parties

FROM: Deputy Secretary of Workforce Services

Kansas Department of Commerce

Workforce Services Division

SUBJECT: Program Year __________________ (July 1,____ through June 30,______WIOA Reserve Funds Grant Application Instructions

1. Purpose. The purpose of this guidance is to provide all WIOA Reserve Funds Grant applicants with application instructions and procedures for Program Year (PY)__________________________.
2. Reference. The following references may be used for additional information: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Sec. 129(b) and 134(a); WIOA Reserve Funds Grant Guidance and Procedure; this SGA.
3. Background. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act provides for a percentage of each state’s allocation for use for “Statewide Workforce Investment Activities." The Kansas Department of Commerce will grant a portion of these funds as established in this SGA as cost reimbursement grants.
4. Grant Application Procedures. All WIOA Reserve Funds grant applicants must submit an application package as described in this SGA to be considered for funding. The Department of Commerce will not approve a grant application for funding that fails to provide any of the required information outlined in this SGA. A complete grant application package must contain the following: (a) A project narrative; (b) Programmatic Assurances; (c) A Budget Narrative; (d) A completed, signed Budget Form; and (e) A copy of the applicant’s most recent Financial Audit Findings and Recommendations.
5. Method of Submission. Applicants must also submit electronic copies of their applications to @ks.gov by the required date and time.
6. Eligibility Review/Responsibility Review/Grant Application Review. Commerce will conduct a pre-award eligibility review, responsibility review, and grant application review. Commerce will not designate applicants as grantees for PY ______ if they:
   1. Fail to meet the eligibility criteria as a Local Workforce Development Board, USD, community or technical college, 501 ( c ) 3 or other community-based organization
   2. Fail to meet the fiscal/ management responsibility criteria based on the applicant’s most recent Independent Audit Findings and Recommendations and described management capacity
   3. Fail to submit an application meeting the requirements of this SGA
   4. The Kansas Department of Commerce will determine and describe priority activities, considerations and specific targeted populations and/or results. Please note: any applicant which is not a Local Workforce Development Board must provide written documentation demonstrating the support of and partnership with the Local Workforce Development Board of the area(s) served by the project.
7. Bonus Points. In addition to the point values described in this SGA, applicants may increase total scores by providing match for the proposed project. Match must be in cash and must support salary, benefits, equipment or contractual line items. Bonus points can be earned as follows:
   1. 25% through 50% match -- 3 points
   2. 51 through 75% match -- 6 points
   3. 76 through 100% match -- 10 points
8. Schedule. Applicants must comply with the following timetable:
   1. Provide required application forms and narratives to the Kansas Department of Commerce no later than 4:00 PM __________.
   2. Pre-Bid Telephone Conference Call is scheduled for____. Call 1-866-XXX-XXXX.
   3. Complete application packages must be emailed to:________.
   4. Commerce will announce Grant Awards by __date_______.
9. Inquiries. Questions may be directed to the address above or by contacting __________. Questions and answers will be posted on the Commerce website, www.kansascommerce.com.
10. Attachments to SGA.
    1. Attachment A: Narrative Instructions
    2. Attachment B: Assurances
    3. Attachment C: Budget Specifications and Definitions