The District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services (DOES) has announced the availability of funding through the Participant Advancement, Training, and Higher Education (PATH) Grant for fiscal year 2025. This grant is part of the Office of Workforce and Federal Programs’ Out-of-School Youth (OSY) Program. The grant opportunity supports workforce solutions aimed at assisting young adults ages 18-24 who are not currently attending secondary or post-secondary school.
The PATH Grant seeks qualified organizations to deliver services such as occupational skills training, career awareness counseling, work readiness modules, basic education, GED preparation, and supported internship experiences. The training programs should last a maximum of 28 weeks and must culminate in full-time, unsubsidized employment for participants. Each participant’s support under this grant is capped at $5,000.
Eligible applicants include public and private nonprofit and for-profit organizations that are qualified to do business with the District government. This encompasses community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, public, charter, and alternative secondary schools, and post-secondary institutions. Applicants must demonstrate proven effectiveness in serving the target population and providing the requested services.
The total funding available under this notice is up to $250,000, sourced entirely from a U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration grant supporting Title I Youth services. The Department intends to make at least one award, but reserves the right to adjust the number and size of awards based on funding availability and the quality of applications received. Award amounts may be lower than requested by applicants.
Applications must be submitted by May 5, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. A pre-application conference will be held virtually on April 21, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. Interested applicants should email OGAgrants@dc.gov to receive an invite link. Contact for additional information is Demetries M. Saunders at the Office of Grant Administration and Resource Allocation (OGARA) via OGAGrants@dc.gov. The grant period will be for one year from the date of award, with four option years available subject to continued funding.
