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

The National Farmworker Jobs Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor through its Employment and Training Administration to support migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families. This program operates under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and is funded through congressional appropriations. The guidance document outlines requirements for Program Year 2026 funding allocations for existing grantees, including Career Services and Training grants, Housing Services grants, and an optional Youth Services grant opportunity. The program is designed to strengthen workforce participation, provide supportive services, and improve economic stability for farmworker populations across designated service areas. The primary purpose of this funding is to ensure continuity of services that assist eligible farmworkers in securing employment, gaining skills, and accessing safe housing. Career Services and Training grants support activities such as job placement, workforce training, and supportive services. Housing Services grants are specifically directed toward providing both permanent and temporary housing solutions, with a requirement that at least 70 percent of funds be used for permanent housing. Youth Services grants, when available, expand services to eligible youth ages 14 to 24 within the farmworker population and support workforce development, outreach, and engagement initiatives. Funding for this program is predetermined through federal appropriations and allocated using established formulas and prior competitive awards. For Program Year 2026, approximately $89.4 million is allocated for Career Services and Training, $6.539 million for Housing Services, and approximately $925,200 is available for Youth Services grants. Individual award amounts vary by state service area and prior funding percentages. Youth Services grants allow applicants to request up to $300,000 each, subject to available funding and eligibility requirements. Eligibility for these funding opportunities is limited to existing grantees that previously received awards under designated funding opportunity announcements. For Youth Services grants, applicants must also meet specific criteria, including prior authorization to serve youth, not having received recent youth funding in prior program years, and achieving at least 75 percent of enrollment targets. Participants served under the program must meet eligibility definitions for migrant and seasonal farmworkers, with youth participants restricted to ages 14 through 24. Applicants must submit their applications through Grants.gov using designated funding opportunity numbers and must include required documentation such as the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance, SF-424A Budget Information form, a detailed Budget Narrative, and, when applicable, a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. Applicants must also submit or confirm their multi-year program plans. For Youth Services grants, a Project Narrative describing proposed activities, staffing, and expected outcomes is required and limited to five pages. Submissions must comply with formatting and content requirements outlined in the guidance. The application timeline requires submission within 30 days of the publication of the guidance, which was issued on May 21, 2026. This establishes a submission deadline in late June 2026. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis for Youth Services grants, while allotments for existing grants are processed following receipt and validation of required documents. Awards are issued as soon as possible after application review to ensure continuity of services. The period of performance for awarded funds is 15 months, beginning July 1 and extending through September 30 of the following calendar year. Evaluation and award decisions are based on eligibility compliance, completeness of application materials, and adherence to program requirements. Risk assessments are conducted using federal systems to evaluate financial stability, prior performance, and compliance history. Reporting requirements include quarterly financial and performance reports submitted through designated federal systems. Applicants are encouraged to coordinate with their assigned Federal Project Officers for questions or modifications and may contact the program office via designated email addresses for further guidance.

Submit early due to first come first served funding; ensure all required documents are complete and consistent across forms; align budget totals exactly across SF-424 and SF-424A; verify eligibility criteria before submission