Program Year 2026 National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) Career Service Training

The National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) Program Year funding opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. This program operates under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and is designed to support migrant and seasonal farmworkers by improving their employment stability, housing conditions, and access to workforce services. The guidance document outlines the requirements for existing NFJP grantees to receive their annual allotments for career services, training, and housing assistance, as well as an optional opportunity to apply for additional youth-focused funding. The primary purpose of the funding is to sustain and enhance workforce development services for eligible farmworkers and their families. Funding supports a range of allowable activities including career counseling, job training, supportive services, and housing assistance. For housing grants, a significant requirement mandates that at least 70 percent of funds be allocated toward permanent housing solutions, with the remainder available for temporary housing. For career services and training grants, at least 70 percent of funds must be spent on direct employment and training services, ensuring that the majority of funding directly benefits participants. The funding scope includes multiple grant categories. Career Services and Training grants are distributed based on prior competition results and formula allocations, totaling over 89 million dollars nationwide. Housing Services grants total over 6.5 million dollars and are distributed similarly. Additionally, a smaller pool of approximately 925,200 dollars is available for Youth Services grants, which aim to provide targeted workforce development opportunities for farmworker youth aged 14 to 24. Youth grant applicants may request up to 300,000 dollars per award, subject to available funding and eligibility. Eligibility for these funds is restricted to existing NFJP grantees that previously received awards under specific funding announcements and meet performance benchmarks. For youth grants, applicants must not have received recent youth funding and must demonstrate adequate participant enrollment performance. Participants served must meet definitions for migrant and seasonal farmworkers under federal regulations. These eligibility constraints make the opportunity exclusive to a defined group of prior awardees rather than open competition. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes several mandatory components such as the SF-424 application form, SF-424A budget form, a detailed budget narrative, and supporting documentation like a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement if applicable. For youth grants, an additional project narrative is required outlining program design, staffing, and expected outcomes. Applications must adhere strictly to naming conventions and submission instructions, and incomplete submissions risk being deemed non-responsive. The timeline for submission is tied to the publication date of the guidance, with all required materials due within 30 days. Grantees may also request modifications to their existing program plans or performance targets within 10 days of publication. Awards are expected to be issued promptly after review to ensure continuity of services. The period of performance for awarded funds is 15 months, providing flexibility beyond the standard program year to accommodate spending variations. Evaluation and award decisions for youth grants are conducted on a first-come, first-served basis among eligible and responsive applicants, emphasizing the importance of early submission. Applications are reviewed for completeness, responsiveness, and compliance with requirements. Additional oversight includes risk assessments based on financial stability, management systems, and prior performance. Grantees must also comply with ongoing reporting requirements, including quarterly financial and performance reports submitted through designated federal systems.

Submit applications early due to first come first served funding; ensure all required documents are complete and aligned; match budget totals across all forms; follow naming conventions strictly