Program Year 2026 National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) Youth Services

The National Farmworker Jobs Program funding for Program Year 2026 is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor through its Employment and Training Administration. This guidance document outlines the process for existing grantees to receive continued funding for Career Services and Training, Housing Services, and to optionally apply for Youth Services grants. The program is authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and supported through Congressional appropriations, with funds allocated to support migrant and seasonal farmworkers across the United States. The Department distributes funds based on previously established formulas and competitive grant results, ensuring continuity of services for eligible populations. The primary purpose of this funding is to support employment and training services, housing assistance, and youth workforce development activities for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Career Services and Training grants fund workforce development services, including job training, career counseling, and supportive services. Housing Services grants support both permanent and temporary housing solutions, with a statutory requirement that at least 70 percent of funds be used for permanent housing activities. Youth Services grants, which are optional and competitively awarded, aim to expand services for farmworker youth aged 14 to 24, including workforce readiness, outreach, and enrollment activities. Funding for Program Year 2026 includes approximately 89.4 million dollars for Career Services and Training, 6.539 million dollars for Housing Services, and approximately 925,200 dollars available for Youth Services grants. Individual Youth Services grants may be awarded up to 300,000 dollars per applicant. Administrative costs across all grant types are capped at 15 percent of the total award. For Career Services and Training grants specifically, at least 70 percent of funds must be spent on employment and training services. Additional restrictions apply to budget categories, indirect costs, and allowable expenditures, with detailed guidance provided for budget narratives and cost allocation. Eligibility for these funding opportunities is limited. Career Services and Training and Housing Services funding is available only to existing grantees selected through prior competitions. For Youth Services grants, applicants must have received funding under a prior NFJP funding opportunity, must not have received Youth Services funding in the previous two program years, and must have met at least 75 percent of their youth enrollment targets. Participant eligibility is restricted to migrant and seasonal farmworker youth aged 14 to 24, as defined by federal regulation. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov using designated funding opportunity numbers for each grant type. Required application components include the SF-424 form, SF-424A budget form, a detailed budget narrative, and supporting documentation such as a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement if applicable. Youth Services applications must also include a project narrative describing proposed activities, staffing, and expected outcomes. Applications are reviewed for completeness and responsiveness, and funding decisions are made on a first-come, first-served basis for Youth Services grants until funds are exhausted. The application timeline is tied to the publication date of the guidance, which is May 21, 2026. All required application materials must be submitted within 30 days of publication. Grantees seeking to modify program plans or performance targets must notify their assigned federal project officer within 10 days of publication. Awards are issued as soon as possible following application review, and each grant carries a 15-month period of performance from July 1 through September 30 of the following calendar year. Recipients are required to submit quarterly financial and performance reports throughout the grant period. Oversight and evaluation are integral components of the program. The Department conducts risk reviews prior to award, assessing financial stability, management systems, and prior performance. Grantees must comply with federal reporting requirements, including quarterly financial and narrative reports. The program is designed to ensure accountability, effective service delivery, and continuous support for farmworker populations through structured funding cycles and performance monitoring.

Submit applications early as Youth Services grants are awarded on a first come first served basis until funds are depleted; ensure all required documents are complete to avoid non responsiveness