Federal grant programs / Department of Labor

Native American Employment and Training (17.265)

Also known as WIOA, Section 166, Native American Employment and Training Program

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$283 million
• Grant awards667
• Typical award$163,954
• Awarded in FY 2025$56.0 million
• Size rank518 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceFormula grants

Key findings

• Annual funding was roughly flat, $55.6 million in fiscal 2021 and $56.0 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 518th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 69% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 36 states and territories.

What the program funds

To support employment and training services for Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian individuals in order to develop more fully the academic, occupational, and literacy skills of such individuals; to make such individuals more competitive in the workforce and to equip them with the entrepreneurial skills necessary for successful self-employment; and to promote the economic and social development of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian communities in accordance with the goals and values of such communities. All programs assisted under this section shall be administered in a manner consistent with the principles of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) and the government-to-government relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribal governments. Supplemental youth funding is also awarded to help low-income Native American youth and Native Hawaiian youth, between the ages of 14 and 24, acquire the educational and occupational skills needed to achieve academic and employment success and transition to careers and productive adulthood.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

Federally-recognized Indian Tribal Governments, bands or groups, Alaska Native villages or groups (as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 43 U.S.C. 1602(b)), Native Hawaiian organizations meeting the eligibility criteria, and Native American Organizations (public bodies or private nonprofit agencies) are selected by the Secretary on a competitive basis. Tribes, bands, and groups may also form consortia in order to qualify for designation as a grantee. Detailed requirements for consortium grantee applicants are set forth in the WIOA Final Rule at 684.200(e). Supplemental funding is automatically awarded to Federal Recognized Tribes and Tribal consortiums selected through the competitive process. However, there a few exceptions in which non-profit entities receive youth funds. Youth funds are also based on a funding formula and is restricted to Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian youth living on or near reservations, OTSA areas in Oklahoma, Alaskan villages and the state of Hawaii.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Funds may be utilized for employment and training programs and services, including classroom training, on-the-job training, training assistance, work experience, youth employment programs, day care, health care, job search, relocation, rent assistance and transportation allowances designed to help eligible participants to obtain employment. There are specified restrictions on the amount of grant funds which can be used for administrative costs (15% but can be up to 20% with prior agency approval). Supplemental youth funds may be utilized to provide employment and training activities that assist youth in achieving academic and employment success. Such activities may include; mentoring, career exploration, work experience / summer employment, community service, education programs including cultural education, leadership development, and supportive services. Funds are restricted to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native American youth and Native Hawaiian youth, between the ages of 14 and 24, living on or near reservations and the States of Oklahoma, Hawaii, and Alaska. Administrative costs are limited to 15% but are negotiable up to 20% upon prior agency approval. participants of the program must be American Indian, as defined by the organization, which at a minimum must include enrolled members of any Federally Recognized Tribe. For the Adult program, participants must also be unemployed, underemployed or low-income individuals.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

The range and average of financial assistance varies by year. Amounts are published annually in a Training Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) Grant awards range from $1,000 to $5,000,000. Funding is based on a formula which is based on the percentage of low-income and unemployed Native Americans living in a geographic service area requested by the applicant in the competitive proposal. Federally Recognized tribes are typically awarded funds based on their reservation area (land base) but may also apply for "off-reservation" areas.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Tribal governments and organizations received 63% of the money, nonprofits 20% and colleges and universities 1.6%.

By state

32 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.