The Oregon Department of Education, on behalf of the Youth Development Division (YDD), is offering the 2025–2027 Job and Work Readiness Grant to deliver services aimed at improving the workforce readiness of youth aged 16–24 who are out-of-school, unemployed, underemployed, reengaged, or facing barriers to education and workforce access. The primary goal is to support youth to develop foundational skills, achieve educational completion, and prepare for living-wage career opportunities.
Applicants can receive between $100,000 and $300,000 over a two-year grant period starting July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. Grants may be renewed for the 2027–2029 biennium for Step 1 Regional Awardees. Funding categories are tiered based on whether applicants are returning grantees or proposing new/system-level projects.
Eligible applicants include nonprofits, faith-based organizations, public benefit corporations, mutual benefit corporations, Oregon community colleges, education service districts, public school districts, public schools, cities, counties, and Oregon's nine federally recognized Tribes. Applicants must be registered with the Oregon Secretary of State’s business registry, and school-based applicants must partner with a community-based organization or employer.
Required services include Essential Employability Skills training and either Paid Work Experiences or training that results in an Industry-Recognized Credential. Programs must support barrier removal and offer one-on-one mentoring and career counseling. Funded activities must focus on systemic and sustained youth development programming and may not support standalone events.
Applications must be submitted through the SurveyMonkey Apply platform by June 23, 2025, at 4:00 PM PDT. A mandatory pre-application conference will be held May 1, 2025, or applicants must view the recorded session. Grant awards are expected to be announced around August 21, 2025.
Applicants must submit a detailed application including an executive summary, organization and community description, project narrative addressing service delivery, equity and access plans, community partnerships, a detailed budget, and letters of partnership. Selection will be based on a competitive, point-based evaluation.
