The PA Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) is seeking applications for its Next Step Reentry Readiness Initiative.
Donor Name: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
State: Pennsylvania
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/08/2025
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The primary purpose of this funding is to support the continuation of employment or job club centers—modeled after American Job Centers—within federal correctional institutions to deliver meaningful workforce preparation, skills development, and job readiness services to incarcerated individuals. Awarded funding will be used for the continuation of the pre-existing job club model set in place and currently operating within minimum- or low-security federal prisons in Pennsylvania.
This new grant opportunity is designed specifically to ensure continuity of service and expand on the work of the existing project. To maximize resources and recognize the fullest benefit of taxpayer dollars, the awardee will assume operations where the previous grant concluded. As such, applicants must demonstrate prior experience working in federal institutions and a clear understanding of the unique operational, compliance, and security requirements involved. Continuity is critical to maintaining and advancing the progress already achieved and avoiding disruption of services for incarcerated individuals who are actively engaged in workforce preparation programming.
Funding Information
L&I anticipates a maximum of $1,000,000 to competitively award to one applicant based on the availability of funds.
Grant Period
L&I anticipates a performance period beginning November 1, 2025, to October 31, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants must have prior experience working within federal institutions, including administering assessments and/or delivering services within a federal facility, to ensure familiarity with the unique operational, compliance, and security requirements of these environments. Eligible applicants must meet all facility-specific clearance and security requirements to access federal correctional institutions. This includes successfully completing background checks and obtaining all necessary approvals in accordance with institutional policies and procedures prior to entering the facility. Eligible applicants must also be capable of connecting program participants to appropriate services to achieve the overall project goals as defined by this Notice of Grant Availability (NGA).
- Applicants must demonstrate the ability to coordinate, manage, and implement the design of the project; develop and implement the project budget; implement a strategy to collect, analyze, and report performance outcomes; and coordinate and evaluate the activities of the project. Applicants must be capable of monitoring and administering the fiscal components of the NGA and of submitting the required reporting elements at the specified intervals.
- Applicants may include local workforce development boards (LWDBs), non-profit and non-governmental entities, community-based organizations, education and post-secondary organizations, reentry support and justice-involved organizations, labor organizations, business associations, trade associations of long- term services and supports providers, and economic development entities. The applicant(s) must demonstrate the capacity to engage and coordinate multiple partners to successfully achieve the project’s overarching goals. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Leading the project design and planning process;
- Developing and managing an appropriate and compliant budget;
- Coordinating project activities and service delivery;
- Establishing project metrics and overseeing data collection;
- Analyzing performance data to inform continuous improvement; and
- Reporting on project outcomes, performance measures, and overall impact.
For more information, visit PA Department of Labor & Industry.
