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75% of youth need to work or go back to school, right?
Applicants that are funded should meet their goals
that are established during the grant negotiation process and included in the
grant agreement. The 75% Performance Standard is established to hold the
grantee harmless if they do not meet 100% of their goals.
In the grant
agreement the Department can determine if there is disallowed cost based on any
performance that is less than 75% of the goal.
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Are partner organizations allowed to apply for and/or be lead organizations in more than one JTED grant application?
Organizations may be
included in multiple applications, provided there is a clear contractual or
subrecipient scope of work and budget that relates to an allowable service
outlined in the JTED Notice of Funding Opportunity. However,
organizations may not
provide the same service across different applications or partnerships. If multiple grants are
recommended for funding that include the same subcontractor, DCEO would work
with the grantee to ensure the subcontractor has the capacity to deliver
services to multiple grantees and that funds remain under the correct
grant.
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Are the participants required to be unemployed, underemployed, or under-represented AND (regardless of the employment status) must also be low-income or moderate income?
For eligibility they need to be either
unemployed, underemployed or underrepresented. An individual who is
unemployed or underemployed can also be underrepresented. Underrepresented consists of those that live in or receive services in a QCT or
DIA or have a risk factor that is listed in the resources. To be eligibly they
must also be either low or moderate income which is defined on page 3 of the
NOFO.
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Can funds be used for youth stipends?
Yes. JTED funds may be used for participant stipends, including youth, provided the stipends are tied to allowable program activities , such as training milestones, work-based learning, or meeting program milestones. All stipends must be clearly documented, reasonable, and aligned with the approved budget and narrative. Transactions must comply with grantee's local policy and follow any applicable federal or state regulations.
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Can grantees apply for both adult and youth programs?
No. Grantees must
choose either adult OR youth—they cannot apply for both.
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Can someone provide an example of training that would apply to public works for this funding?
The project scope must be determined by your organization based on NOFO requirements. The State cannot provide specific program examples. Refer to the NOFO for guidelines.
Link:
https://www.illinoisworknet.com/jtednofo2025
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Can you further delineate the difference between Question 3 in Section 1 "Capacity" (How has the applicant previously worked with...) and Question 1 in Section 2 "Need" (Describe your experience with...)
- Capacity: Focuses on the applicant's organizational ability to manage the grant. This includes prior experience administering similar programs, systems in place for oversight, and evidence of institutional expertise. It is about demonstrating that the agency has the infrastructure and track record to successfully deliver the proposed project.
- Need: Focuses on why the target population was selected. Applicants must use data to justify the need, show alignment with employer/industry sector demands, and explain how the project addresses those needs. This section is about the rationale for the proposed work and how JTED funding (along with leveraged resources) will integrate services effectively.
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Do nursing and healthcare career-focused programs qualify for this NOFO under "Life Sciences?"
Yes. Healthcare and nursing pathways qualify under the Life Sciences sector, provided the training leads to industry-recognized credentials and aligns with employer demand in the region.
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Do we need to report other state funds?
This grant does not require matching funds.
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Does an agency need to be GATA certified if we are not claiming indirect costs?
Yes. All applicants must be pre-qualified before applying.
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Does our skilled training have to align with the 5 categories listed in the RFP? We have a construction and a culinary/hospitality program which do not seem to align in the new plans. Thanks.
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Does your organization need to have IBHE PBVS approval?
Only if your organization is providing occupational training directly. If training is provided by a partner who is already PBVS-approved, the lead applicant does not need its own PBVS approval.
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How do IWT employees at an employer qualify for JTED as under-employed, if the sector targeted is high-growth?
Both definitions must be met. The employer must qualify under the IWT definition (250 or fewer employees), and the job opportunity must meet the high-growth definition.
- IWT Definition: Employee trainees must be under-employed or have received notices of termination/layoff. IWT is designed to help avert layoffs or provide skills necessary to retain employment (e.g., digital skills, machinery training), enabling promotions and creating backfill opportunities.
- High-Growth Definition: The targeted industry must be identified as in-demand in the Governor's 5-Year Economic Plan, the State's WIOA Unified Plan, or relevant local/regional plans.
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How do we get GATA certified?
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How does an agency provide proof or documentation of indirect costs for reimbursement?
Documentation requirements are outlined in the NOFO and DCEO's grant guidelines.
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If our organization is currently in the reimbursement/reporting stage of a different DCEO grant, can we still apply?
Yes. Organizations with active DCEO grants may apply as long as they remain in good standing.
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If submitting two different programs (for example, healthcare and manufacturing), do we need two separate budgets?
The grantees only submit one budget, but they should
include and define the costs of each program.
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If we are proposing a program with Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) with an employer partner as well as an industry association, does the employer partner need to have fewer than 250 employees to qualify?
Yes. As stated in the NOFO, Incumbent Worker Training (Category 1) provides services only to employers with 250 or fewer employees.
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If we propose to serve youth, is it required that our program serve all youth ages 16-24? Or may we focus on a sub-population, such as high school youth, as long as the high school youth meet all of the other outlined eligibility criteria? Thank you!
You
may focus on a sub-population within the 16–24 age range, such as high
school youth, as long as all participants meet the JTED eligibility
requirements. It is not required to serve the entire 16–24 range.
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If we will be offering wages to youth for both their training and their work experience, should wages go under the Supportive Services section of the budget?
No.
Grantees may not pay wages for training or seat time. Stipends may be
paid for milestones achieved during training. Wages can only be paid for work experience.
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Is GATA certification the same as having a SAM Cage Code?
No. These are separate requirements.
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Is there a character or word count limit for question responses?
No, there is no set limit. That said, longer isn’t
always stronger. Focus on providing a clear, detailed explanation of your plan,
while keeping your response concise and on point.
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Is there a character/word limit for the narrative responses?
No
specific character or word limit is stated in the NOFO. However, applicants
should provide clear, concise responses and ensure answers fully address
each question.
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Is there an intended cost per client?
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Our program serves youth aged 18-24, using a 16-week Transitional Jobs model. Is it allowable to apply in the Youth focus area, using this model (TJ is listed as allowable for adults but not in the youth section)? Would it make more sense to apply in the
If you serve 18 and above,
please apply as an adult program.
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Should our fiscal agent or main training partner be the main partner that submits the application?
The lead applicant should be the organization that will:
- Hold the contract
- Manage fiscal and program responsibilities
- Oversee reporting, compliance, and partner coordination
This is typically the fiscal agent or largest administrative partner, but the applicant team may choose whichever entity is best equipped to manage the grant.
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Under the training section, it states that training providers must submit an application to the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). Just to confirm, that means if we apply for this we would need to do this? We serve youth experiencing homelessness
Yes, that is correct. All training providers must be PBVS certified when operating outside of educational institutions.
You can find more information and submit an application through IBHE at the following link:
https://www.ibhe.org/pbvsapplications.html Since IBHE is an external partner, we do not have a way to check application status. All submissions and updates are handled directly through them.
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We had a DCEO grant 5+ years ago and used the GATA system. Is that account still active?
Agencies should verify their status in the GATA portal and update or renew registration as needed.
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We have 4 partners working to support participants. If each partner is to be funded through this grant, should they be listed under sub-awards and sub-contracts or the line that most closely reflects the work they will be doing?
If a partner is receiving funds through the grant, they must be listed as either a:
- Sub-award (sub-recipient) if they deliver programmatic services tied directly to outcomes
- Sub-contractor (vendor) if they provide a specific service or deliverable
List each partner in the category that best reflects their role and responsibilities.
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What are acceptable Barrier Reduction Fund expenditures? Is this defined in the application?
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What are the deliverable on the grant? Like how many enrolled or what percentage that get certifications? What are the expected goals and targets?
Deliverables include:
- Number of individuals enrolled in the program
- Number of individuals completing the program
- Number of individuals obtaining credential(s)
- Number of individuals that achieve a measurable skill gain
- Number of individuals placed in post-secondary education
- Number of individuals placed in unsubsidized employment
- Number of individuals retained in unsubsidized employment for 6 and 12 months
- Number of individuals experiencing a wage/benefit increase
Each applicant must set their goals based on the training programs they plan to offer. When establishing these goals, you should evaluate the average cost per training for each proposed program, especially if you intend to provide training across multiple sectors.
Your targeted goals must be realistic, achievable, and aligned with your overall program design. The grant agreement includes a Performance Standard stating that “acceptable performance for a competitive application is set at 75% of the planned performance."
While the expectation is that you strive to meet 100% of your goals, the program allows for a variance: you will not be penalized as long as your actual performance reaches at least 75% of the planned goal.
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What are the job placement and retention requirements under JTED Category 2 - Youth Focus?
Follow-up services and job placement requirements are outlined on page 14 of the NOFO. It is up to your agency to establish your own performance goals. For youth programs the final outcome is usually placed in secondary or post-secondary education unless the program is designed to place youth in jobs, then the job placement measure should be used.
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What are the qualifying accreditation programs for the grant, specifically for non-profit workforce development agencies?
Accreditation
is required only if your organization directly provides occupational
training that falls under IBHE PBVS rules. Qualifying accreditations
include: Non-profit workforce agencies do not need accreditation if they
are not the training provider.
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What does JTED stand for?
JTED refers to the Job Training and Economic Development.
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What option should we select if our agency is not claiming any indirect costs?
On the ICI tab of the budget, there is an option indicating that your organization is not taking indirect costs.
