Access to Jobs Grant

The Access to Jobs Grant is administered by the Executive Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia under Mayor Muriel Bowser. The program is rooted in the Access to Jobs Amendment Act of 2020, which mandates the Mayor’s Office of Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA) to implement a subsidized employment initiative for returning citizens. The grant is designed to support District-based employers in providing structured, paid work opportunities to individuals who have been previously incarcerated, with the goal of improving workforce reintegration and long-term employment outcomes. The primary purpose of the grant is to connect returning citizens who reside in the District of Columbia with subsidized employment opportunities that help build workplace skills, provide meaningful work experience, and support career advancement. The program emphasizes creating flexible workplace environments that acknowledge and accommodate the unique challenges faced by returning citizens. It also encourages employers to offer short-term positions that can potentially transition into long-term, unsubsidized employment after the grant period ends. Funding is structured as a wage subsidy rather than a traditional lump-sum grant for programmatic expenses. In the first year, the grant subsidizes 40 percent of the minimum wage for each eligible employee, and in the second year, subject to appropriations and reapplication, it subsidizes 80 percent of the minimum wage. Employers are responsible for covering the remaining wage portion and any additional costs such as fringe benefits and overtime pay, which are explicitly excluded from grant coverage. Organizations may hire between one and ten returning citizens, each working up to 40 hours per week for a minimum of eight weeks, and must ensure that employees receive at least the District’s minimum wage. Eligible applicants include for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status that are licensed and in good standing within the District of Columbia. Applicants must demonstrate financial capacity to cover unsubsidized wage portions and comply with all regulatory requirements, including registration with MORCA, maintaining good standing with the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection and the Office of Tax and Revenue, and providing required certifications such as a Clean Hands Certificate. Employment supported by the grant must take place within the District and be conducted in person. The application process requires submission through the ZoomGrants Grants Management Portal by the stated deadline. Organizations must also complete a registration process with MORCA prior to applying. While specific application components are not fully detailed in the notice, compliance documentation, financial capacity evidence, and organizational eligibility verification are clearly required. A pre-bidder’s conference is offered to provide additional guidance to prospective applicants. The application timeline includes a request for applications release in early June 2026 and a submission deadline later that same month. Awards are intended for Fiscal Year 2027, with a performance period extending through September 30, 2027, and a possible extension into the following fiscal year depending on funding availability. The grant is expected to recur annually, as organizations must reapply each year to continue participation. A designated point of contact is provided within the Executive Office of the Mayor for applicant inquiries, ensuring access to administrative support throughout the process.

Emphasize ability to transition subsidized roles into long term employment; demonstrate financial capacity clearly; highlight supportive workplace practices for returning citizens; ensure all compliance documentation is complete and current