Illinois Youth Investment Program (444-80-3473-01) Technical Assistance, Questions & Answers and Appendices

Technical Assistance Session:

This technical assistance session will provide participants with an overview of the 25-444-80-3473-01 Illinois Youth Investment Program (IYIP) Notice of Funding Opportunity and information on how providers can apply for FY25.

Date and Time: November 12, 2024 9:00AM
Technical Assistance Session Recording:
Illinois Youth Investment Program (IYIP) - Bidders Conference - Zoom

Illinois Youth Investment Program (IYIP) Appendices:

Questions and Answers:

November 6, 2024:

Question: The IYIP Appendix Executive Summary references the Summer IYIP, is this in error?
Answer: Yes, our sincere apologies. The Appendices have been updated and the Executive Summary appendix is now correct.
Question: Are fillable PDF versions available for the forms?
Answer: Yes, to request PDF forms please email DHS.PositiveYouthDevelopment@illinois.gov.

November 8, 2024:

Question: For clarification, in regards to the NOFO for IYIP, are agencies located in Rock Island County eligible to apply?
Answer: No, according to the NOFO under Eligible Service Areas only the following counties are eligible: Champaign County, Cook County, Lake County, Peoria County, Sangamon County, St. Clair County and Winnebago County.
Question: Is an applicant required to serve an entire county area, or whether they may propose to serve a group of communities within a county: for example, could we propose to serve North Suburban Cook County rather than the entirety of the Cook County region?
Answer: You may apply to serve an entire county or a group of communities within a county. Multiple communities within the same eligible county CAN be combined into a single application. Keep in mind how large of an area and size of population your agency will have the ability to serve. You can propose to serve only North Suburban Cook County for example, rather than the entire county.
Question: Is it my understanding that this grant is not for job creation but to help youth become employed with jobs in the community? Who are the employers that they are to find employment with? Are they employers within the community?
Answer: Under the Program Deliverables section of NOFO, see Employer Partnerships: An applicant must recruit and secure partnerships with employers prepared to offer employment opportunities to IYIP enrolled youth. It is the expectation for the applicant to find employers willing to offer jobs to IYIP enrolled youth. IDHS does not maintain a list of existing employers.
Question: What documents would satisfy the eligibility documentation requirement as attachment 1?
Answer: Attachment 1 is the IYIP NOFO Checklist (available as an appendix) and is used to help ensure an applicant includes everything necessary to have a complete application.
Question: How does this grant opportunity differ and/or relate to the current IYIP grant, #444-80-3356? Can you apply if you are already an IYIP grantee?
Answer: This Illinois Youth Investment Program #444-80-3473 is very similar to the current IYIP #444-80-3356. Yes, you can apply if you are already an IYIP grantee. You must be able to ensure separation of the programs to ensure there is no "double dipping".
Question: We are wondering if placement needs to be full time? Since in-school youth are eligible for this service, how would a youth in schoolwork full time?
Answer: Employment for IYIP enrolled youth may be either full or part-time work experience. A youth who is in school would not be expected to work full-time while school is in session. There are both Short-term and Long-term programming options. See the Placements section of the NOFO for full details on work placements for IYIP enrolled youth.

November 12, 2024:

Question: The directions indicate "grant award amounts will be determined by a per-capita cost, not to exceed $6,900 per youth served under short-term employment and $15,000 per youth served under long-term employment. For example: If an applicant is proposing to serve 50 youth in short-term/Summer employment, the maximum grant award amount would be $345,000 (50*$6,900). For long-term employment, if an applicant is proposing to serve 50 youth the maximum grant award amount would be $750,000 (50*$15,000). These amounts include all program and administrative costs.
Answer: This is correct.
Question: In one place on the NOFO it says, Long-term and career development programming is designed to target youth who are ready to focus on long-term employment…. Once completed, career development training programs (including apprenticeships or credentialing programs) will provide the youth with immediate full-time job placement opportunities.
Answer: This is correct.

November 14, 2024:

Question: Does this program require that we partner with external employers for youth, or may we offer youth employment opportunities within our organization? We are also an AmeriCorps grantee and would be able to place folks in that program.
Answer: While there is an expectation that providers partner with external employers, there is an exception that allows for an applicant that does Short-term programming to employ up to 10 youth within their own organization serving as both the employer and the provider so long as all conditions outlined in the NOFO are met. See the Short-term Programming subheading under "Placements".
For Long-term Programming as detailed in the NOFO language, if the youth employment provider or sub-recipient is also an AmeriCorps provider, under no circumstances will the AmeriCorps provider or sub-recipient be allowed to make placements into the AmeriCorps program as part of the youth employment grant. This would present a conflict of interest.
Question: Where can young adults' access IYIP services in Sangamon Country / Springfield, IL please?
Answer: This question is not related to this NOFO. Please send an email to DHS.PositiveYouthDevelopment@illinois.gov for assistance.
Question: Would you please provide the PowerPoint and video recording for today's webinar?
Answer: The recording can be found here: Illinois Youth Investment Program (IYIP) -- Bidders Conference - Zoom
Question: The NOFO and the Executive Summary indicates that supporting documentation for the Executive Summary - needs to be provided as Attachment 1 of the application. Elsewhere it also says that the NOFO Checklist is to be included as Attachment 1. What do we include as Attachment 1.
Answer: The NOFO checklist will remain Attachment 1. The supporting documentation required to demonstrate your organization meets the 2-year requirement (referenced in the Executive Summary) will be included as Attachment 16 of your Narrative. The Executive Summary itself is available as an appendix. This Executive Summary Form must be completed and included as the first item in the Application Narrative. The Executive Summary does NOT count toward the required page limitations. See the IYIP Executive Summary (appendix) (5 points) section of NOFO for full details.
Question: On the Executive Summary form, Under the Applicant Experience within the Community section, we are supposed to "List and identify the attached supporting documents" that verify our years of experience-What type of documents would you deem acceptable to provide this proof?
The following question is "How this documentation proves your organization meets the minimum 2 years/ experience requirement in the community for which you are proposing to serve under this grant." I am unclear how we are supposed to answer this question? Can you provide examples or some clarification?
Answer: We have intentionally not required certain specific documentation as not everyone would necessarily have the same documentation. This has been left to your organization to make its case that this requirement is met. You will explain what documentation you have provided and how it demonstrates you meet the requirement.
Question: For the long-term programming, does the length of youth's participation in this programming need to be 6 months, or is 5 months acceptable?
Answer: The length of time a youth is enrolled in IYIP can vary depending upon each youth's individual circumstances along with programming type proposed by the applicant. Yes, 5 months can be acceptable so long as all the goals outlined in the NOFO are met. The 6 months or 26 weeks is a maximum time limit placed on youth earning subsidized wages from the IYIP grant. See the "Long-term & Career Development Programming" section of the NOFO for full details.
Question: What are the subcontracting guidelines? If our organization applies as an individual recipient can we still subcontract with other organizations to provide some services?
Answer: Each eligible county for which an applicant intends to provide services would require a separate application. Under this NOFO, an organization may only receive funding for a single grant per eligible County. This includes direct funding and funding as a subrecipient. An applicant would not be able to serve as both a direct recipient and a subrecipient in the same eligible county. However, an applicant may be a direct recipient in one eligible County and a subrecipient in another eligible County. An applicant may also be a direct grantee in multiple eligible counties.
If an applicant submits a direct application in one eligible County and submits as a subrecipient of another organization - for the same eligible County - if both are selected for funding, the organization would need to select which grant they wanted DHS to move forward with.
If you want to provide services in multiple locations in a community or even multiple communities in the came eligible County, you would simply include all areas in the same application.
Question: For Short-term programming, the NOFO states, "The maximum number of youths that may be employed at the Grantee agency at any one time is 10." Is there a similar limit for Long-term programming?
Answer: The 10 youth limit in Short-term programming only applies to youth who are employed directly by the grantee receiving subsidized wages from the IYIP grant. For Long-term programming, no youth may work directly for the grantee while receiving subsidized wages from the IYIP grant. However, there is no limit for youth working a non-subsidized job for the grantee so long as all conditions outlined in the NOFO under the subheading Long-term & Career Development Programming under the section Placements.
Question: The maximum amount for individual awards is $1,000,000. However, if only 10 youth can be employed at a time, and they must work at least 180 hours, it seems feasible to employ no more than 50 youth in a year. At $6,900 per youth, that comes to $345,000. How would it then be possible to request $1,000,000?
Answer: Under this scenario you would not be able to apply for the full $1M. The idea of this grant is not to staff your agency. The 10 limit is an exception that allows for you to employ a small number to work through your organization. The idea is to identify actual jobs through external employers for them to work in to gain real work experience. Please see previous question and answer for explanation of the 10 youth limitation/exception. An applicant can apply to serve as many projected youth as they believe can be effectively served within their organization during a 12-month period up to the maximum.
Question: Other than the appendices that are available for download on the IDHS website, the only document I see included in that PDF is the Executive Summary. Where are the documents for items 2.-6. (Capacity, Need, etc.)?
Answer: Items 2. through 6. should be described by the applicant in a Proposal Narrative as outlined in the NOFO under section "Content and Form of Application Submission". Also, applicants must submit two (2) budgets into CSA as directed in the NOFO. This would be in addition to the budget narrative provided as a sub-part (Item 6) of the Proposal Narrative. You may prepare your proposal narrative in a word document or other similar format if you like. Please see NOFO for details regarding format etc.

November 15, 2024:

Question: Under the Performance Measures, long-term and career development programming, one of the performance measures is the "percentage of youth in unsubsidized long-term employment following program completion". I was wondering if it is required for organizations to have the goal of retaining youth in unsubsidized long-term employment following their participation in long-term programming, or if we may instead focus on the goal of helping youth develop a postsecondary education plan and/or get connected to opportunities to advance their education? Our organization is interested in offering long-term subsidized employment to youth in the social services/human services field so that they may receive experience in this field, and we would then like to support them with educational planning and connecting with educational opportunities following their subsidized placement so that they can pursue a career in this field in the long-term. Is this acceptable, or are we required to focus on the goal of unsubsidized long-term employment under this funding opportunity?
Answer: Long-term subsidized employment is an option as long as the enrolled IYIP youth are NOT employed directly at the grantee agency. The goal of enrolling in postsecondary education is included as a part of the IYIP grant. This can be tied directly to long-term, unsubsidized employment depending upon what postsecondary plan a youth is pursuing. See the Wage, Stipend and Incentives appendix for full details on allowable costs under this NOFO: IYIP Wage, Stipend and Incentives appendix 444-80-3473.
Question: We are interested in focusing on service-learning based work. We would be partnering with 1-2 local community organizing and advocacy nonprofits (the employers) to place youth into internships where they would be working on researching, designing, and implementing community service projects that address community issues being worked on by the employers. We would also ensure that there is career exploration/development, professional development with essential employability skills built into the program. These would be short-term employment opportunities occurring year-round primarily for high school youth. Would this be an acceptable model?
Answer: Everything described in your sample scenario of proposed youth programming would be acceptable under this funding opportunity.

November 20, 2024:

Question: Can we blend and braid this funding with other contractual sources?
Answer: Yes, as long as your agency is not using funds from 2 different grants to pay for the same expense such as work clothes for the youth as an example. All costs must be reasonable and necessary, allocable and allowable as defined by program regulatory requirements and the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) as applicable.
Question: Our employment and training agency serves adults including 20-24-year-olds. We have IDHS TANF contracts. Our last youth-specific contract was in 2015. We wish to expand our employment services to more youth and young adults due to high need. Are we an appropriate applicant for this grant? Would we be competitive?
Answer: Yes, it sounds like you would be an appropriate applicant. Due to the competitive bid nature of this NOFO, we are not able to comment on whether or not any individual agency would be a strong candidate to be selected for funding. Please know that the programs are implemented differently and have different requirements.
Question: Is this application for existing grantees as well as new?
Answer: Yes
Question: Can we be funded for this grant even if we are currently being funded by IYIP?
Answer: Yes. However, the application must be to serve different youth and or different communities. It must be an expansion above and beyond the existing program. There must be clear separation and no supplanting/double dipping. It will be a separate grant.
Question: Are there templates on the DHS website for employment agreements, timesheets, etc.….
Answer: No. Each applicant is expected to create their own employment agreements, timesheets, etc. using the guidelines laid out in this NOFO. See the Program Deliverables section of this NOFO for full details on employer partnerships.
Question: Is it required that long-term unsubsidized employment be the primary goal for youth who participate in long-term programming? Or can we also help youth get connected with education opportunities and/or help them develop a post-secondary education plan as our primary objective?
Answer: Please see the answer to Question #21 above.
Question: Can we place youth at jobs within our organization or do they need to be placed with employers external to the applicant?
Answer: Please see the answers to Question #11 and also Question #18 above.
Question: Is there a minimum number of youths to be served in each program?
Answer: No, there is not a minimum number required.
Question: Is AmeriCorps placement workable for short-term placement?
Answer: No. Placing a youth in AmeriCorps is only an option for long-term programming. It is possible that a youth may participate in short-term programming and then long-term, career development programming or AmeriCorps; however, the youth may not be in both types of programming at the same time. (For the purposes of State reporting, a youth placed in an AmeriCorps placement would be considered in long-term, career development programming.) See the Placements section of this NOFO for full details.
Question: Can we apply as the community intermediary AND as an individual organization?
Answer: You can submit a single application that includes both subrecipients and direct programming by your organization.
Question: Would it be considered a duplication of services if we use new subrecipients and serve new neighborhoods?
Answer: No, See also Question #26 above.
Question: If we have been serving the community for 3 years but we just became a nonprofit status a year in a half ago will that be a problem?
Answer: You will need to document / explain how you believe your agency meets the associated eligibility requirement.
Question: What is the responsibility of the community intermediary?
Answer: The Community Intermediary will be the grantee, responsible for full implementation of services under the grant. The CI is responsible for the work of the sub-recipients.
Question: Regarding duplication of services. We currently have a IYIP grant for short and long term. As long as we have new youth for this new grant can we still apply for this grant? We would like to extend to more youth.
Answer: Please refer to answer for Question #26 above.
Question: Do we have to apply for the AmeriCorps grant separately to have this grant apply to AmeriCorps Youth Serve Members? Can these funds be used as funds to match the AmeriCorps payments for youth?
Answer: The answer would be NO to both of these questions.
Question: Can we have a combination of short term and long-term participants within this program?
Answer: Yes, but the youth may NOT be in both types of programming at the same time. See the Placements section of NOFO for full details.
Question: Can we use this grant to provide stipends to unsubsidized AmeriCorps members?
Answer: No.
Question: Once we identify a county, is it necessary to call out specific community areas?
Answer: Yes you should indicate which communities you intend to serve and if the entire county please state that.
Question: We have employer agreements which include all required information. Can we use the current agreements we have?
Answer: Yes as long as your employer agreements include all the required aspects laid out in this NOFO.
Question: Did I see in the employer slide that we need to include a list of participant names and projected start date? Does this mean we already need to have clients identified?
Answer: No
Question: Where can I find a list of most recent past grant recipients?
Answer: Following the steps in this link CSFA will take you to the list of currently funded IYIP providers. Search for "Illinois Youth Investment Program".
Question: Is the age range 15 -24 or 16 -24? Both age ranges are listed in the NOFO.
Answer: The age range for youth to be employed is 16. ALL enrolled youth must be placed into employment as described in the NOFO. Youth at age 15 may be enrolled if they are close to 16 or if they have a release/permission from the school counselor that enables a youth to be legally employed at age 15.
Question: We are currently funded as a provider. Can we apply through this opportunity to be an intermediary? Will we retain our status as a direct provider through the existing grant we are receiving or should we blend our own services in this?
Answer: Yes, you can apply to be an intermediary and remain a direct provider through your existing IYIP grant. You do not need to combine into this application.
Question: Do the maximums for youth employed by the grantee apply to subrecipients?
Answer: Yes
Question: To clarify, we have an internship program and we wanted to utilize this grant to cover the cost. So the max number of youth that can work with us is 10?
Answer: Please refer to the answers for Questions #18 and #19. The maximum number is 10 youth who can be employed directly by the grantee agency in short-term, subsidized jobs.
Question: If youth are enrolled in long-term programming and we place them at our organization, we cannot use grant funds from this grant to subsidize their wages?
Answer: Correct. The long-term employment placement where youth are employed by the grantee agency must be unsubsidized work.
Question: Do we need to develop two budgets for the grant applications?
Answer: Yes. You need to create a budget for five months in FY25 and then another budget for 9 months in FY26. See below from the Budget and Budget Narrative section of NOFO:
Applicant Budgets
1. Applicants will be submitting two budgets and a budget narrative for this application:
  - A 14-month budget narrative will be included as part of the application narrative under this section.
  - An FY25 five-month budget for grant period, February 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025. This budget must be entered into CSA.
  - An FY26 9-month budget for the period, July 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. This budget must be entered into CSA.
Question: Is the de minimus indirect cost rate 10% or 15%? We know it has been increased to 15% but 10% is in the grant narrative.
Answer: The De Minimis Rate for this NOFO is 10% and this can be selected in CSA when entering your budgets.
Question: Can we use grant funds to pay for food for participants during programming?
Answer: You may use grant funds to pay for food for the youth during IYIP programming.
Question: Is the total grant award divided into 2 years? If so, should the budget be based on 2 years or 1 year?
Answer: The total grant award would be for the annual project period, which is from April 1 to March 31 or a period of 12 months. Successful applicants under this NOFO will receive an award for the period of FY25 (February 1, 2025 - June 30, 2025), AND an award for the first 3 quarters of FY26 (July 1 to March 31, 2025).
Question: Should the budget be based on $1 million, assuming an award of $1 million?
Answer: No, the maximum award amount for an individual provider is 1 million. You can request less than the maximum, and the budget should be based on the total amount of your funding request. Please ensure you adhere to the cost per youth maximums. See the previous question for time periods and budget planning.
Question: What are some examples of paid contracting services?
Answer: Contractual services can vary widely but one example would be using a cleaning service for your office or a company to process youth payroll.
Question: Does the award period start 2/1 (2 month pre-planning) or 4/1?
Answer: We anticipate award start date of 2/1, however the annual project period/term is from 4/1 - 3/31 each year. In this first year we are allowing up to 2-months for program start up. Charges against the grant can be claimed during this period. There are not additional funds available for start up period.
Question: Are employers required to provide health and other benefits? Are these reimbursable by the grant? Is childcare, transportation, etc. reimbursable?
Answer: All of these costs might be reimbursable depending on certain factors. All normal State and Federal taxes, workers compensation, FICA, etc must be taken out of a youth's paycheck. All costs must be reasonable and necessary, allocable and allowable as defined by program regulatory requirements and the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) as applicable. See the Wage, Stipend and Incentives appendix for full details on allowable costs under this NOFO: IYIP Wage, Stipend and Incentives appendix 444-80-3473
Question: Our organization operates a separately incorporated home care business. Would placement in this agency be considered "external employment" and eligible for all program aspects applicable to external employers?
Answer: If the youth are placed at an employer other than the grantee agency then it would be considered external employment. This description sounds like it might be the same employer, if that is the case it would be considered internal.
Refer to the Wage, Stipend and Incentives appendix referenced in previous question and also the Employer Partnerships section of NOFO for full details.
Question: Can you confirm if we must apply for AmeriCorps separately to have youth serve members under this grant? Can this funding be used for the AmeriCorps matching?
Answer: Refer to questions 37 and 38.
Question: If we currently receive IYIP funding, is there a benefit to why we would apply for this funding opportunity? Or will we have a continuation opportunity already?
Answer: You will have a continuation opportunity prior to March 31, 2025 when the current IYIP contract ends for 444-80-3356 and 444-80-3357. This continuation application will be sent out to all currently funded providers at a later date. It is NOT necessary to apply under this NOFO to continue your current IYIP or IYIP-SJP grant. They are separate.
Question: Can subrecipients of current IYIP contracts also be listed in this new application to expand their programming?
Answer: A subrecipient may apply by itself in order to be funded as its own agency or partner with a separate potential grantee to serve as a subrecipient for this IYIP grant. However, the programming must be for different youth/communities refer to Question 26 above.
Question: Is there a IYIP - SJ funding available in this NOFO other than IYIP long-term and short-term funding? If not, is there another NOFO for IYIP - SJ?
Answer: No, but there will be a continuation application for the IYIP-SJ grant. Please see answer to Question #57 above.
Question: If we are applying as a Community Intermediary, would we have to put out an RFP to solicit subrecipient partners or could we chose based on current partnerships?
Answer: You can propose which ever model you like. If you are not doing an RFP, the subrecipients will need to be included as part of the application as all sub-recipients must be pre-approved.
Question: Just clarifying a previous question--The NOFO emphasizes that applicants should have demonstrated youth/young adult employment experience. We do serve some in this age group in our employment, but our last youth-specific contract was 5-7 years ago. We have staff and program elements to serve youth and young adults. I believe we would be an eligible applicant--true?
Answer: Our apologies, but we are not able to comment on your eligibility status. Please refer to the NOFO for the Applicant Eligibility criteria. Regarding the prior experience requirement, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate how your agency meets this requirement.
Question: Does an applicant have to be a non-profit to be eligible?
Answer: Please refer to the NOFO for the Applicant Eligibility criteria.
Question: I work for a provider that has a DRS contract. Our employment services office is based in Will County but we do serve will county. We were interested in this program so we could serve youth in Cook County who are not getting funding through DRS.
Answer: Eligible applicants can apply to serve youth in Cook County or a group of communities within Cook County. However, your agency must still meet the Applicant eligibility criteria laid out in the NOFO.
Question: Do we need office space in Cook County or is being a provider in the county to that population okay?
Answer: Having office space in Cook County or any eligible service area is not a requirement of IYIP. You will need to serve the IYIP enrolled youth in an eligible service area though. You must also meet the Applicant eligibility requirements laid out in the NOFO to be an eligible applicant.
Question: Can Community Colleges apply for this award?
Answer: This is possible so long as the community college meets the eligibility requirements of this NOFO. Please refer to Section C.1. Eligible Applicants in this NOFO.
Question: How many staff can we hire to help assist with the youth and how much is allowed to pay the ones we hire?
Answer: There is no specific limit placed on either of these aspects of youth programming. Understand that the per youth maximums are inclusive of all grant implementation costs. It is a per-capita cost per youth.
Question: What kind of documentation is expected to verify that the applicant organization has 2 years of experience? Program reports, contracts, etc.?
Answer: We have intentionally left this open so that your organization could effectively make its case and include any relevant supporting documentation.
Question: Do we put the budget in CSA as part of the application process or do we put it in only after the grant is awarded?
Answer: It is part of the application requirements.

November 22, 2024:

Question: Can we apply as an organization that prepare, connect and support young people to career training programs but do not have employer partners and depend on the training program to place youth in employment?
Answer: The primary objective of IYIP is to place youth in long-term unsubsidized employment/career employment. It may be possible to focus on career training programs however you would need to provide more detail about the type of training program you would be proposing, but the goal of placing IYIP enrolled youth into jobs would still need to be included as an aspect of your program.
Question: Planning so programming can start later such as a 2month recruiting period?
Answer: The 2 months projected start up period is February - March 2025. Youth programming should be planned to begin on April 1, 2025. See the Content and Form of Application Submission section of this NOFO for full details.
Question: What is a pre apprenticeship program by definition? What are the deliverable functions? Can you provide an example? Is there a Link to download the NOFO? Or can a pdf be provided?
Answer: A Pre-Apprenticeship Program is a program that has a documented partnership with an employer and is designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in a Registered Apprenticeship or Non-Registered Apprenticeship. Refer to the IYIP Appendix Definitions on the NOFO site. You may request a pdf of the NOFO by sending an email request to DHS.PositiveYouthDevelopment@illinois.gov. You may access the NOFO here #444-80-3473 for IYIP.
Question: Is this an opportunity to expand the number of youth we're able to serve for the Short-Term program for summer jobs even in our current service area.
Answer: Yes. However, the application must be to serve different youth and or different communities. It must be an expansion above and beyond the existing program. There must be clear separation and no supplanting/double dipping. It will be a separate grant.
Question: What is the maximum for Indirect cost?
Answer: Indirect costs charged to the grant may not exceed the approved indirect cost rate. To charge indirect costs, the applicant must have a Federal or State annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) or must elect to use the De Minimis Rate, which is 10%.
Question: Will funding be available for employment training activities as well, or simply the paid work experiences and apprenticeships?
Answer: Funding can be used for employment training activities so long as these costs are allowable costs and included in the applicant's approved budget in CSA.
Question: Is the best place to find youth referrals for this program within the school system?
Answer: Referrals for IYIP may come from a variety of sources including the local school systems in your planned service area.
Question: Is this a yearlong grant?
Answer: The initial funding period is actually for 14 months from 2/01/2025 to 3/31/2026 allowing for a 2-month start up period, then the opportunity to renew for an additional 12-month period from 4/01/2026 to 3/31/2027.
Question: Can subrecipients of current IYIP contracts also be listed in this new application to expand their programming?
Answer: Yes. However, the application must be to serve different youth and or different communities. It must be an expansion above and beyond the existing program. There must be clear separation and no supplanting/double dipping. It will be a separate grant. The current grantee for which you are a sub-recipient would need to be aware to ensure that they understand that your new award must be completely separate from your sub-grant.
Question: Must programing start on April 1, 2024, or a later date with the program period?
Answer: Youth enrollment formally into IYIP and youth programming can start as early as April 1, 2025. However, an applicant can have a later projected start date for youth depending upon the type of program plan submitted. Not all youth will have to start on April 1. Please refer to the Placements subsection under the Program Deliverables section in this NOFO for full details. You may also enroll youth during the start-up period.
Question: During the two-month start up, can we submit expenses?
Answer: Yes
Question: Is there a template for the Proposal Narrative on the website or is it just a Word document?
Answer: There is not a template that exists. Please refer to Content and Form of Application Submission section of the NOFO where all guidelines for a Proposal Narrative are listed.
Question: Just to clarify. Short term programming can be year-round? For Summer Youth Employment and non-Summer as well?
Answer: Yes. Short-term employment is the 3-month 180-day programming. this can occur at any point. you would not call programming that that takes place for example from November - January a Summer program.
Question: Must we already have employer partners identified when submitting the application?
Answer: It would be very helpful to an applicant when starting their youth programming if they already have employer partners (at minimum a few partners) in place or at least have a really good idea of where youth can potentially be placed for employment. However, it is not necessary to have all of your employer agreements in place by the application deadline. That said, applications that have identified committed employer partners will score higher than those that have none. It speaks to program readiness, etc. It is also expected that providers are always looking to identify additional employer partners throughout the grant.
Question: May government units apply? we don't have a 501c3/4?
Answer: Refer to the NOFO Section C.1. Eligible Applicants.
Question: Are the points for Need/Equity & Racial Justice section supposed to be 10 or 15? There were two different numbers. Answer: Both the Needs Section and the Equity Sections are each worth 15 points. I do not see 2 different numbers in the PDF NOFO or the Web Version.
Question: NICRA - your slide indicated an indirect rate as 15%, I am not a financial person, but it has been my understanding that the de-minimus rate was 10% if you don't have a negotiated rate...is this a change?
Answer: The De Minimis rate is still 10%.
Question: May we request our application scores regardless of if we are funded?
Answer: No, you can however request feedback on your application.
Question: Can we only focus on 18-24?
Answer: Yes
Question: Can you apply with a Community Intermediary as a sub and apply as an individual organization?
Answer: Only if the applications are for different service areas. You would simply include the full array of services you wish to provide under your individual application. If you are a current sub-recipient and you wish to apply as a direct applicant under this NOFO you can do that. Please also refer to Question #26 regarding the need for separation of programming and services.
An applicant under this NOFO will not receive multiple grants for the same eligible County, this includes funding as a direct applicant and as a sub-recipient. Refer to the NOFO Section C.6. Mandatory Requirements of the Applicant/Application.
Question: We would like to apply for two sites one in Lake County one in Suburban Cook. This requires 2 full applications. What is the maximum amount of funding the agency would be allowed to apply for?
Answer: You are correct in that this scenario described it would require 2 separate applications. Depending on the number of youth projected to serve in each County/service area, an applicant may request up to $1 million for each individual application.
Question: Are youth allowed to be subsidized by the grant (long-term programming) if they work for a subrecipient?
Answer: No, not if the youth would be working directly for the subrecipient. Sub-recipients are held to the same requirements as the applicant organization.
Question: Are we required to pay students min wage for skill building, pre-employment, placement readiness activities? Can we provide a stipend for completion benchmarks?
Answer: Subsidized wages and stipends are not allowable costs for the activities you identified. These activities are eligible for incentives. Please refer to the NOFO for additional details related to Wages, Stipends, Incentives etc..
Question: If awarded the grant, can an advance be requested?
Answer: Yes, provided your organization meets the requirements in Section 4.a.1. Refer to Section F4 Payment Terms of the NOFO.
Question: Can our nonprofit apply alone, but could we also be listed as a sub awardee for a different nonprofit?
Answer: Only if the applications are for different service areas. You would simply include the full array of services you wish to provide under your individual application.
If you are a current sub-recipient and you wish to apply as a direct applicant under this NOFO you can do that. Please also refer to Question #26 regarding the need for separation of programming and services.
An applicant under this NOFO will not receive multiple grants for the same eligible County, this includes funding as a direct applicant and as a sub-recipient. Refer to the NOFO Section C.6. Mandatory Requirements of the Applicant/Application.
Question: Is there a possibility of this grant being renewed later? Also, are we expected to request the entire $1 million?
Answer: Yes the grant may be renewed for one additional 12-month term. No you are not required to request the full $1M.
Question: If we are the applicant for short term programming and also plan on being the work site (for 10 participants as a time), can we list ourselves as an employee partner?
Answer: Yes
Question: Are we able to budget for personnel and other operational needs or just the youth?
Answer: Yes. However, the total award amount will be determined based on the cost-per-youth requirements identified in the NOFO. These costs are NOT above and beyond the Per youth maximums. These Per youth maximums are inclusive of these costs. You can budget for all eligible costs related to implementing this grant.
Question: Because the budgets are split between fiscal years, for Summer Youth, is the limit $6,900.00 for each fiscal year or over the 14-month period?
Answer: The $6,900 maximum is for the full 12-month project period. In year 1 this includes the 2 additional start-up months (14 Months). In year 2 this is the amount for the 12-month project period.
Question: 2 month planning period. Where do we budget the costs incurred during the 2-month budget period?
Answer: You simply budget expenses like all other expenses, it is not necessary to identify them as pre-award.
Question: Is $345K the maximum over the 14-month period, correct?
Answer: No. The maximum award will be determined based on the number of youth you plan to serve by employment type, up to a maximum of $1M for individual grants and up to $5M for Community Intermediary grants.
Question: We are currently completing our fiscal audits for 2022 and 2023. We expect to have them wrapped up by the end of December-a few weeks after the proposal submission deadline. In your view, should we submit a proposal even though the audits won't be completed before the deadline?
Answer: You must meet the pre-qualification requirements identified in the NOFO in order to be eligible. If your organization is on the Stop Pay list due to past due Audits (or any other reason), you will not be able to receive an award. If you are not on the stop pay list, it is possible to issue an award presuming your agency is still pre-qualified.
Question: If we submit a grant proposal for the community intermediary and do not get funded, should we also provide a separate proposal as a provider?
Answer: You could do that yes. However, you would only receive one award per eligible county.
Question: Could you please let me know if there are any additional qualifications required that are not listed on the site?
Answer: All qualifications are identified in the NOFO and associated materials.
Question: If we sought to use IYIP grant funds for separate expenses, like training and coaching, would there be a limit on the number served at a given time?
Answer: It sounds as if this question is referring to short-term employment placements at the applicant organization. Presuming this, the limit of 10 for this purpose is as it relates to subsidizing wages. If the grant is not being used to subsidize wages then more than 10 youth may be served at the applicant organization. That said, the minimum 180 hours of paid employment must still be met for each youth.
Question: Will grant payments be based on enrollment or milestone completion (i.e. X# of hours of paid work experience)?
Answer: No. They will be based on reported expenditures under the grant. Expenditures must of course be eligible expenses.
Question: Will grant payments be made as advance payments, or monthly reimbursement vouchering?
Answer: Please refer to Section F4 Payment Terms of the NOFO.
Question: The Program Placement/Work Site Information Form, immediately below the first box, there is text that reads: "Performance Target: 100% of Job Placements will be expected as indicated above under "Total # Placements at Site". How many of these youth are projected to remain successfully employed from this site following program completion?" There is not space provided to answer this question. Should we add space to answer this question, or is this text meant to be informational only?
Answer: You may add space as necessary to answer. However, this question is only asking for a number and that number should be how many youth are projected to remain successfully employed at this particular work site.
Question: One key component we are researching is if this can pay for coursework towards a credential as part of the career experience with grant funds? This does not seem to fall under wages or stipends, but could it be an incentive?
Answer: If the coursework is focused on and is a part of the youth's chosen career path, then grant funds may be used so long as all costs are allowable. The course fees would be paid as a training stipend, not as an incentive. All details would need to be presented in your program plan as a part of this application.
Wages may be fully or partially subsidized by the grant for the hours worked for both long-term employment and the required minimum 450 on-the-job training hours worked for the Youth Apprenticeship Program. Further, stipends may be paid for up to 2 semesters of related instruction that lead toward an industry credential as part of the Youth Apprenticeship program. Ideally these 2 semesters of instruction count toward a high-school diploma and/or postsecondary credential. Please refer to Question #21 above for more information related to this topic.
Question: As part of the long-term programming approach, page 3 of the NOFO states that "Youth may instead or also seek to attain a Recognized Postsecondary Credential (Industry-linked Credential, Certification or License) through other established on-the-job-training programs that lead directly to sustained employment."
Does this mean that a Recognized Postsecondary Credential program must be connected to an on-the-job-training program to qualify as a successful placement? Or can youth pursue a Recognized Postsecondary Credential that prepares them to apply for industry linked jobs upon receiving the credential?
Answer: Please refer to Question #21 above and also the previous Question #109.
Question: What is the CRV for? Do we have to do anything with that other than be approved as we're applying for this grant?
Answer: No, you only need to be GATA approved and in good standing with the Secretary of State. The Centralized Repository Vault (CRV) provides a centralized, secure website for businesses contracting with the State of Illinois to upload documentation at one time in one location for access by multiple participating state agencies.
Question: Do all administrative requirements (such as GATA, SAM, Secretary of State Good Standing, etc.) apply for sub-grantees?
Answer: Yes. If an applicant plans to use one or more subrecipients to deliver services related to this program, then you will need to describe the role and responsibilities of each subrecipient. Describe the applicant agency role and how the applicant agency will fund, support, monitor and evaluate the performance of the subrecipient(s) ensuring compliance with 2CFR200 requirements for Subrecipient monitoring and management. See the Program Deliverables subsection under the Quality - Description of Program Design and Services: (30 points) section of this NOFO for full details.
Question: Can a portion of this funding be used to pay wages of professional internship OJT in a labor market cluster identified as career exploration?
Answer: Wage subsidies and stipends will include compensation for services rendered limited to youth wages and benefits to include FICA and workers' compensation. Training stipends will also include FICA and workers compensation as necessary. As a rule, the employer pays the wage for an Apprenticeship program. In this case, grant funds could not be used to pay a wage or stipend for work hours. Grant funds could be used to pay stipends for required training as described above only if the youth is not otherwise being compensated for training participation/completion. In situations where an established training program already pays a wage or stipend for participation in or completion of the training program, the grant may NOT be used to offset or replace this subsidy. Further, stipends may not be paid for the same hour for which a youth is earning a wage, regardless of payee. However, if the employer rate is less than the maximum allowed, the stipend may be paid in addition to but not in lieu of, provided that it at no time exceeds the maximum allowed under the grant ($17.00). If the Apprenticeship / Credentialing program only pays for work hours and not for required training, stipends may be paid for those required and verified training hours. See the Wage, Stipend and Incentives appendix for full details on allowable costs under this NOFO: IYIP Wage, Stipend and Incentives appendix 444-80-3473
Question: Are we supposed to complete the budget in CSA for the entire year of the grant or do we only do the first half of the grant?
Answer: Please see the answer to Question #49 above.
Question: What if we fulfill the requirement of them getting credentials and certification that lead to employment? I thought that was listed.
Answer: The Performance Standards for Long-term & Career Development Programming for Roman numerals IV. and V. listed in the NOFO are related directly to enrolled youth being placed in a credential program and whether or not the youth complete the program. Also, these Performance Standards note whether or not the youth are hired into long-term employment in a targeted field or accepted into other Articulated Postsecondary Education. Please refer to the Performance Standards section of this NOFO.
Question: Attachment limits for email addresses required us to separate our pdf application into 2 sections. Is that allowable?
Answer: As stated in the NOFO Section D.4.b The electronic copy must be a complete single PDF file. If the applicant needs assistance creating a single PDF file, please reach out to contact person listed in this NOFO. If we are unable to asist we will give you permission to submit differently, however, this must be done prior to the application deadline. It is not the responsibility of IDHS to put together the various pieces of your application from multiple files. While we may choose to accept applications submitted in this manner, you take the risk that the application reviewed may not be complete or as intended. We anticipate a large volume of applications being submitted on the due date and the preceding day, if you anticipate this issue, please contact DHS in advance so they may assist in compiling your document.
If you anticipate a firewall issue in your end, DHS staff can work with you and provide permission to submit in multiple documents.
If you have any issues with the submission, email: DHS.PositiveYouthDevelopment@illinois.gov for assistance.
Question: Is the community intermediary like a flow-through? Where can I find more info on this aspect of the grant?
Answer: The Community Intermediary or CI will serve as a mentor and also as the fiscal agent monitoring its subrecipients for IYIP. Please refer to Question #35 above. The CI may also serve as a direct services provider. The applicant agency will fund, support, monitor and evaluate the performance of the subrecipient(s) ensuring compliance with 2CFR200 requirements for Subrecipient monitoring and management.

November 26, 2024:

Question: If the grantee projects to enroll 50 youth on a rolling basis, for example, into long term programming throughout the first grant year, do all 50 need to complete and exit the program by the end of the first year, or can they continue into year two? If they can continue, are they considered new enrollments in year 2? Would the grantee be penalized for enrolling youth a month or two before
the end of year and some of those enrollments not yet completing and exiting the program before the year ends?
Answer: The expectation is that you serve 50 different kids each year. That said, you may enroll them at any time during the project period and yes they can carry forward into the new year. They would not be re-enrolled as new youth. In the scenario you describe you would still be enrolling 50 youth in the first 12-month grant term and then in the 2nd 12-month grant term you would enroll 50 new youth - thus in year 2 you would be serving more than 50 youth as some would be continuing from previous grant term because they were enrolled late.
Question: If a youth is in high school and is placed in holiday season employment, can they be counted as a placement for long term and career development?
Answer: No. Seasonal employment is short-term because the expectation is that the youth will only be employed for the season. It does not matter if the youth is employed full time or part time, it is the length of the employment. Short-term implies an end to the employment.

December 3, 2024:

Question: Is an intermediary applicant lacking two years of experience that applies with sub-applicants having two years of experience an eligible applicant?
Answer: No, any agency applying to serve as a Community Intermediary must according to the eligibility guidelines laid out in this NOFO: "Exceed the minimum 2-year history of providing services to at-risk youth in the specific community area to which they are applying to serve". See the Funding Priorities section of NOFO for full details on eligibility requirements. It is not, however, a requirement for those 2 years experience to be in providing youth employment services.
Question: Can we count a participant twice if the participant completes the short-term program - they gain the skills and work experience - and the long-term program - they gain unsubsidized employment - during the grant period?
Answer: Yes, depending on the individual youth's circumstances in IYIP programming it would be possible through enrollment and successful completion in both Short-term and Long-term programming for a youth to be counted twice. However, any subsidized employment days used during Short-term (maximum of 3 months or 90 days) programming must then be subtracted from the Long-term programming allowance of 6 months or 180 days. For example, if a youth works 90 subsidized days during Short-term enrollment then this youth would only have 90 subsidized days maximum left for Long-term enrollment. Youth may always be placed in a non-subsidized job and remain in the work placement for a longer period of time. Please refer to the Placements subsection under the Program Deliverables section in this NOFO for full details.
Question: we are organizing a social enterprise that will be a painting company. Our aim is to hire individuals to work full-time in unsubsidized positions. Could we hire and employ more than 10 long-term program completers at the same time, once the social enterprise is organized as business?
Answer: There is no limit on hiring unsubsidized youth. However, if an agency is applying to be the provider and also the employer placing youth in Short-term programming jobs subsidized either partially or fully by IYIP grant funds, then the limit would be 10 youth.
Question: With previous IYIP Grant submissions, our application has been too large for a single pdf file to be sent through email as instructed. Is there a different submission process we can use? Or, may we have permission to submit our application in sections/parts as needed?
Answer: Please see answer to Question #116 above.
Question: The grant allows for a maximum of $17/hour wages to be paid to students. Minimum wage in Chicago is $16.20. When fringes are paid, the total would be around $17.40. Does the maximum allowed by the grant include taxes/fringes, meaning when those are paid as well, it can't be more than $17 per hour?
Answer: You are allowed to pay $17/hour plus applicable taxes, FICA, etc. OR pay a wage of $17/hour then take all applicable taxes and deductions out of the enrolled youth's paycheck just as any normal job would do. Either option is permissible when paying a subsidized wage to youth enrolled in IYIP; however, the more grant money you use to pay the youth then the lower number of projected youth to be served in a subsidized wage employment scenario.

December 5, 2024:

Question: Is the 'Worksite Professional Skills Assessment' under 7. Program Deliverables / e. Essential Employability Skills (EES) Development required for all placements? Or only for employers with subsidized placements?
Answer: The Worksite Professional Skills Assessment is required for all youth employment placements, both subsidized and unsubsidized. According to the NOFO:
Employers will be required to conduct an assessment on the youth's demonstrated employment skills that at a minimum include Illinois' Essential Employability Skills. This will be conducted at the end of the 2nd week of employment and again anytime within the last 3 weeks of employment. This may also be conducted upon termination if the placement ends prematurely. The first assessment will serve as feedback for the youth and the provider. The second will document skill attainment/improvement.
Question: Are timesheets and payroll documents requirements for external, non-subsidized employment?
Answer: Yes. The main difference between subsidized and unsubsidized job placement monitoring is that all subsidized youth employment opportunities must have signed Employer Agreements. Signatures are encouraged but not required for unsubsidized Employer Agreements. Please refer to "Employer Partnerships" subsection under the Program Deliverables section of NOFO for complete details.
Question: Did the rate per youth increase from the FY 2024 amount? ($17.00 per hour) If so, what is the rate for FY 2025 and FY 2026?
Answer: The maximum rate still remains $17.00 per hour for a youth's subsidized wage in FY25 and also in FY26. See the Wage, Stipend and Incentives appendix for full details on allowable costs under this NOFO: IYIP Wage, Stipend and Incentives appendix 444-80-3473
Question: for clarity the budget period is 14 months over two fiscal years even for short-term employment, the maximum is 50 youth for the 14-month period at the rate per youth, correct?
Answer: No, first the project period is 12 months, however there is a 2-month start-up period. There is not a maximum on number of youth that can be served for Short-term or Long-term programming. Each individual applicant must decide what is the optimal number of youth to be enrolled.
Question: are the youth to work 180 hours total or 180 days total per fiscal year or in totality as a participant? The WorkNet says 90 days vs 180 hours via the NOFO.
Answer: One primary goal of IYIP is for all enrolled youth to be placed in paid work experience (either subsidized or unsubsidized) requiring a minimum 180 hours of paid work.
The Illinois workNet system has a 90-day maximum limit per youth on subsidized days for Short-term, subsidized employment. These 90 days are counted in calendar days and not number of days worked. For example, if a youth starts working a subsidized job on April 1 then the youth would have until around June 29 or 90 days from the April 1 subsidized job start date in order to earn a subsidy in Short-term programming. The 90-day time limit only applies to working a subsidized job in Short-term programming.
Question: If an enrolled participant in the program fails to continue participation, whether due to health or family crisis, lack of interest or follow through, or any number of reasons, would an agency close out that client? What obligation would you require or expect of the agency - referral to another resource and then the agency is finished with that participant, ongoing case management with or without a referral?
Answer: This depends upon each individual youth participant what action would be necessary. In general, a youth may be closed out or discharged from IYIP if they fail to continue participating and in some cases, this might require an outside referral depending on the individual's circumstances.
Question: It is my understanding that under this NOFO the award amounts are not to exceed $6,900 per youth served under short employment and $15,000 per youth served under long term employment. If we chose to serve 50 short-term youth and requested $345,000($6900*50), would this include the funds for the subsidized wages? If we were to subsidize all 50 wages at the maximum of $17 an hour for 13 weeks for 40 hours a week that would equal $442,000(17*13*40*50), which would exceed the maximum. Please advise.
Answer: An applicant must create a budget based on the projected number of youth to be served and stay within the limits for this NOFO - $6,900 per youth for Short-term and $15,000 per youth for Long-term programming. These amounts include all program and administrative costs. The scenario of 50 youth working 40 hours per week for 13 weeks would exceed this formula. It is not expected or required that youth work 40 hours per week for a total of 13 weeks with all wages being subsidized by the IYIP grant. In your example, only 1 youth working 40 hours/week at a rate of $17/hour for 13 weeks would equal $8,840.00 for just an individual youth, which would exceed the limits of this NOFO without even factoring in any other program and administrative costs. While you can choose to do this, the max the grant will cover is the $6,900 per short-term youth, outside resources would be required. Please understand that for short-term, only 180 hours are required (at 40 hours per week the youth would meet this requirement in approximately 6 weeks, it would not take 13 weeks.). The grant allows up to 13 weeks for the youth to meet the 180-hour requirement. This can be achieved working part-time and allows for the youth to meet this requirement even if they are attending school or other activities. It is not a requirement for short-term youth to work all 13 weeks, it is also not a requirement for the wage to be subsidized in full or for the entire time period.