Notice of Funding Opportunity
State Agency Name: Iowa Workforce Development (IWD)
Funding Opportunity Title: Future Ready Iowa Summer Youth Internship Program
Announcement Type: Initial
CFDA Number: Not Applicable
Important Dates & Key Information
● Applications will Open in IowaGrants: Thursday, January 18, 2024.
● Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 2:00pm, Central Standard Time.
● Application Notification: A Notice of Intent to Award will be posted on the Future Ready Iowa
website: https://www.futurereadyiowa.gov
● Informational Webinar and Live Q&A: Monday, January 29, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. CST. See www.futurereadyiowa.gov/youth-intern-projects to register.
Program Description
The intent of this program is to provide high school students and youth between the ages of 14 and
24 internship opportunities that allow youth to explore and prepare for high-demand careers, gain work
experience, and develop personal attributes necessary to succeed in the workplace. The target
audience includes high school youth who are at risk of not graduating, youth who are from low-income
households, youth who are from communities underrepresented in the Iowa workforce, or youth who
otherwise face barriers to success and upward mobility in the labor market.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to co-enroll Summer Youth Internship participants with the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Youth Program in their local area.
The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity is to solicit applications that will enable Iowa
Workforce Development (IWD) to award grant funding to support the goals of the Summer Youth
Internship Program and Future Ready Iowa.
Future Ready Iowa Goals
1. Funding Priorities. IWD seeks to prioritize the investment of resources in programs providing
internships to the following youth:
a. Those at risk of not graduating.
b. Those from low-income households.
c. Those who are from communities underrepresented in the Iowa workforce.
d. Those who otherwise face barriers to success and upward mobility in the labor market.
Applicants who partner with their local WIOA Title I Youth Program to co-enroll participants will
receive priority funding.
2. Performance Measures. All applications must include performance measures that logically
connect a project’s goal(s) with proposed activities that include:
a. Anticipated number of youth served.
b. Anticipated number of participants facing barriers related to the priorities (see #1 Funding
Priorities).
c. Credentials or certifications attained by youth participants.
d. Exposure to new career opportunities for participants.
e. Anticipated attendance and completion.
3. Program Authority. IWD’s authority to award these grants is found in Iowa Code §84A.12.
WIOA Title I Partnership:
Applicants are strongly encouraged to co-enroll Summer Youth Internship participants with the
WIOA Title I Youth Program in their local area.
WIOA Title I is landmark legislation that is designed to strengthen and improve our nation’s public
workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to
employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled
workers. For more information, please visit: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/wioa
The purpose of WIOA Title I is to empower individuals with significant barriers to maximize
employment, economic self-sufficiency, independence, and inclusion in and integration into
society.
To be considered in partnership with WIOA Title I, proof of partnership in the form of a written
partnership contract is required (to be uploaded as an attachment to your application). Your
local IowaWORKS office will provide you with the contract.
Award Information
1. Estimated Available Funds. The source of funding is the Summer Youth Intern Pilot Program
appropriated by the State of Iowa Legislature under Senate File 559.
2. Estimated Award Amount. IWD anticipates awarding grants to multiple applicants. Grant
awards may vary in amounts as determined by the scope of the project. Funding decisions are
made as funding is available, and IWD is not obligated to provide the maximum grant amount
requested. IWD will seek to maximize grant awards to those programs which demonstrate the
most significant programming and project responses, and for those whose projects indicate the
possibility of the most significant community impacts.
3. Project and Award Period. The project period is a minimum of six weeks within the time frame
below.
● Start Date: May 1, 2024
● End Date: August 31, 2024
IWD estimates the award period will be April 1, 2024 through August 31, 2024. Dates are
tentative and are subject to change. Final dates will be determined during the award process.
Download the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for more details.