Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I - Youth Program Services Grant

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I - Youth Program Services funding opportunity is administered by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (MTDLI), Workforce Services Division (WSD), in compliance with the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The program is intended to provide comprehensive workforce development services to youth across Montana, particularly low-income and disadvantaged youth who face barriers to education and employment. The Department is seeking experienced and qualified organizations capable of delivering workforce development programming that aligns with Montana’s 406 JOBS initiative and the federal America’s Talent Strategy. These initiatives emphasize apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities, employer-driven workforce strategies, credential attainment, work-based learning, and reducing barriers to workforce participation for underserved populations. The funding opportunity focuses on serving both In-School Youth (ISY) ages 14-21 and Out-of-School Youth (OSY) ages 16-24. Services are intended to help youth complete secondary education, gain occupational and work readiness skills, participate in career exploration, and transition into employment, postsecondary education, or apprenticeships. The program requires subrecipients to provide workforce development activities that include career coaching, supportive services, labor market information, work experiences, occupational training, mentoring, financial literacy, leadership development, and follow-up services. WIOA regulations require that at least one of the fourteen youth program elements be provided every 90 days during participation and that follow-up services continue for at least one year after completion. The program places significant emphasis on measurable outcomes including credential attainment, employment rates, measurable skill gains, and employer engagement. MTDLI intends to issue two-year subawards covering Program Year 2026 from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 and Program Year 2027 from July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028, contingent upon federal funding availability and satisfactory performance. Approximately $1,799,798 in total funding is expected to be available statewide. Local Area 1 is allocated approximately $200,327 while Local Area 2 is allocated approximately $1,599,471. Funding is further distributed by MACo district with individual district allocations ranging from approximately $63,720 to $291,256. Cost per participant may not exceed $7,500, and applicants must propose participant enrollment levels proportionate to requested funding. Subrecipients are expected to maximize direct participant spending and prioritize effective workforce outcomes. In addition, at least 20 percent of youth funds must be spent on paid or unpaid work-based learning activities including internships, pre-apprenticeships, on-the-job training, summer employment, and job shadowing. Montana currently operates under a waiver allowing 50 percent of youth expenditures to support out-of-school youth instead of the standard federal requirement of 75 percent, although the state is reapplying for this waiver for Program Year 2026. Eligible applicants include experienced organizations capable of providing workforce development services within Montana’s designated local workforce areas and MACo districts. Applications must identify whether services will be provided in Local Area 1 or Local Area 2, and separate applications are required for each local area. Applicants may partner with sub-subrecipients or partner organizations, but one organization must act as the lead fiscal agent. Offerors must demonstrate experience serving disconnected youth, operating workforce development programs, coordinating with WIOA core partners, and maintaining strong employer relationships. The solicitation requires applicants to describe operational capacity, staffing, employer engagement strategies, case management processes, outreach methods, work-based learning approaches, partnerships, financial management systems, and methods for meeting federal performance standards. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Submittable platform no later than June 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. An optional pre-submission conference will be held virtually through Microsoft Teams on May 15, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. MST. Written questions regarding the funding opportunity must be submitted by May 26, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. MST, and responses to questions will be publicly posted online by May 29, 2026. Required application components include a cover page, executive summary, organizational profile, staffing plan, references, statement of work, financial stability documentation, internal control assessment materials, and a Program Operating Plan budget for each MACo district served. Applications will be evaluated on a 600-point scale covering organizational experience, ability to deliver services, staffing qualifications, references, and cost proposals. Financial stability and internal control requirements are evaluated on a pass/fail basis. The evaluation process prioritizes applicants capable of achieving strong WIOA performance outcomes and implementing integrated workforce development systems aligned with local labor market demand. MTDLI emphasizes customer-centered coaching models, employer partnerships, career pathways, labor market alignment, and adaptability to changing workforce conditions. Organizations are expected to coordinate with One-Stop Centers, WIOA core programs, schools, employers, and community partners to ensure seamless participant services. Additional emphasis is placed on serving rural communities, tribal communities, participants with disabilities, justice-involved youth, homeless youth, foster youth, pregnant or parenting youth, and other populations facing barriers to employment. The Department also encourages applicants to incorporate AI literacy and emerging workforce technologies into participant training and career preparation activities. The funding opportunity is anticipated to recur through future competitive solicitations after the current two-year subaward cycle concludes. MTDLI anticipates issuing a new competitive funding opportunity for Program Year 2028 following completion of the current award cycle. Strong-performing subrecipients during Program Years 2026 and 2027 may receive competitive preference during future review processes. Questions regarding the opportunity may be directed to MTDLI_WIOA@mt.gov using the subject line “Title I – Youth Program Services.” The official funding announcement and supporting documents include the WIOA Glossary of Terms and Definitions, SWIB Sanction Policy, Program Operating Plan, WIOA.49 activity form, Federal Terms and Conditions, and guidance on the fourteen required youth program elements.

Emphasize employer-driven workforce strategies, apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship pathways, measurable performance outcomes, strong WIOA core partner coordination, labor market alignment, and comprehensive work-based learning plans. Demonstrate ability to serve rural and hard-to-reach youth populations while maintaining strong case management and compliance systems.