[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 56 (Thursday, March 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15436-15438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7106]




[[Page 15435]]

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Part VI





Department of Housing and Urban Development





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Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing



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Public Housing Apprenticeship Demonstration Program in the Construction 
Trades and Public Housing Operations; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 56 / Thursday, March 23, 1995 / 
Notices
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[[Page 15436]] 


DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing
[Docket No. N-95-3885; FR-3884-N-01]


Notice of Public Housing Apprenticeship Demonstration Program in 
the Construction Trades and Public Housing Operations

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing.

ACTION: Notice of demonstration program.

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SUMMARY: This Notice announces the Department's intention to award $9 
million to HOPE VI eligible housing authorities who have partnered with 
the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA); the United 
Brotherhood of Carpenters and the International Brotherhood of 
Painters; and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal 
Employees (AFSCME) to enhance the long-term welfare of youth living in 
public housing through Apprenticeship Demonstration Programs. The 
Department will enter into Memoranda of Agreement with the above 
referenced organizations for the same purpose--to enhance the long-term 
welfare of youth living in public housing.
    The Public Housing Apprenticeship Demonstration Program in the 
Construction Trades and Public Housing Operations will provide job 
training and ensure bonafide apprenticeship and employment 
opportunities in the construction trades and public housing operations 
that will lead to self-sufficiency for public housing youth. This 
notice provides guidelines for the use of these funds and invites 
comments on the demonstration.

DATES: Proposal Due Date: Applicant proposals will be due to the 
Department May 8, 1995. Proposals must be received in the Office of 
Community Relations and Involvement, Office of Public and Indian 
Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh St., 
SW., Room 4112, Washington, DC 20410 no later than 3:00 pm, local time 
on the proposal due date.
    Comment Due Date: April 24, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this notice to the Rules Docket Clerk, Office of General Counsel, Room 
10276, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, 
SW, Washington, DC 20410-0500. Communications should refer to the above 
docket number and title. Facsimile (FAX) comments are not acceptable. A 
copy of each communication submitted will be available for public 
inspection and copying between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. weekdays at the 
above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Lehrer, Office of Community 
Relations and Involvement, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4112, Washington, DC 20410, Telephone 
Number (202) 619-8201. (This is not a toll free number). Hearing- or 
speech-impaired persons may use the Telecommunications Devices for the 
Deaf (TDD) by contacting the Federal Information Relay Service on (202) 
708-9300 or 1-800-877-8339) for information on the program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

    The information collection requirements contained in this notice 
have been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for approval 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The 
OMB control number when assigned will be published by separate notice 
in the Federal Register.

II. Authority

    The $9 million for the Public Housing Apprenticeship Demonstration 
Program in the Construction Trades and Public Housing Operations is 
funded from a portion of the $20 million appropriated in the Department 
of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development and Independent 
Agencies Appropriations Act for 1994 (Pub. L. 103-124, approved October 
28, 1993) (the 1994 Appropriations Act), under the heading ``Severely 
Distressed Public Housing Projects'', for implementation of Youthbuild 
programs by eligible grantees under the Urban Revitalization 
Demonstration Program (HOPE VI). (On September 14, 1994 (59 FR 47222), 
the Department announced a Youth Apprenticeship program funded with a 
separate $10 million portion of the $20 million, which the 
Appropriations Act specifically earmarked for youth apprenticeship 
training activities pursuant to section 3 of the Housing and Urban 
Development Act of 1968, as amended (Economic Opportunities for Low- 
and Very-Low-Income Persons).) This grant program provides funds for 
the implementation of Youthbuild programs authorized under subtitle D 
of title IV of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, 
as added by section 164 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 
1992 (Pub. L. 102-550, approved October 28, 1992).

III. Announcement of Demonstration

    This notice announces the Department's intention to award $9 
million to HOPE VI eligible housing authorities who have partnered with 
the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA); the United 
Brotherhood of Carpenters and the International Brotherhood of 
Painters; and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal 
Employees (AFSCME) to enhance the long-term welfare of youth living in 
public housing through Apprenticeship Demonstration Programs.
    In accordance with the requirements of section 470(a) of the 
Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983 (42 U.S.C. 3542), this 
notice describes the Public Housing Apprenticeship Demonstration 
Program in the Construction Trades and Public Housing Operations and 
invites public comment. Any changes made in this demonstration as a 
result of the Department's consideration of public comments, and any 
extension of time for commitment of funds that may be necessary because 
of these changes, also will be published in the Federal Register.
    The Department will not commit funds for the demonstration until 
after the latest of: (1) The date the Department has considered any 
comments received in response to this notice; (2) May 22, 1995, which 
is 60 days after today's publication date; and (3) the date the 
Department has received and approved a proposal that meets the 
requirements set forth in this notice and any subsequent notice 
announcing changes in the demonstration.

IV. Maximum Award

    The maximum award for a Public Housing Apprenticeship Demonstration 
Program in the Construction Trades and Public Housing Operations is 
$250,000; however, the Department reserves the right to increase the 
maximum individual award based on the number of applications funded.
    The Memoranda of Agreement that the Department will enter with the 
above mentioned organizations will indicate that HUD will make up to 
$3.5 million available to public housing authorities to partner with 
the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA); up to $3.5 
million available for housing authorities to partner with the United 
Brotherhood of Carpenters and the International Brotherhood of 
Painters; up to $2.0 million available to [[Page 15437]] housing 
authorities to partner with American Federation of State, County and 
Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
    Under this demonstration, housing authorities may partner with one 
trade union and/or AFSCME.

V. Description of Demonstration

    The Public Housing Apprenticeship Demonstration Program in the 
Construction Trades and Public Housing Operations is part of HUD's 
comprehensive strategy to restore and revitalize communities in urban 
America, preserve and rebuild public housing stock and create ladders 
of economic opportunity for public housing residents. This 
demonstration program specifically links public housing authorities 
(PHAs) and their residents and the following organizations: the 
Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA); the United 
Brotherhood of Carpenters and the International Brotherhood of 
Painters; and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal 
Employees (AFSCME).
    This demonstration will bring together the skills needed to provide 
public housing youth with job training, apprenticeship opportunities 
and employment opportunities leading to self-sufficiency. Further, this 
demonstration will assist PHAs in meeting the requirements of section 3 
of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended (Economic 
Opportunities for Low- and Very-Low-Income Persons).

Eligible Public Housing Authorities

    Under this demonstration, eligible public housing authorities 
include:
    (1) Housing authorities that are recipients of HOPE VI grants, and/
or
    (2) Housing authorities on the Troubled PHA List as of 2/5/95, and/
or
    (3) Housing authorities in the 40 most populous cities.
    Eligible PHAs will create partnerships with participating 
construction trade organizations and/or AFSCME. All participating 
construction trade organizations will subsequently recruit, train, 
mentor and place public housing residents in Department of Labor (DOL) 
approved apprenticeship programs. AFSCME will recruit, train, mentor 
and provide work experience and employment opportunities for youth in 
public housing.

Eligible Program Participants

    Eligible program participants must be public housing residents, and 
in accordance with Youthbuild:
    (1) Participants must be very low-income individuals aged 16 to 24 
years, who are high school dropouts. An exception allows for 25 percent 
of the participants to be individuals who do not meet the program's 
income or educational requirements but who have educational needs 
despite attainment of a high school diploma or its equivalency.
    (2) Any eligible individual selected for full-time participation in 
this program may be offered full-time participation for a period of not 
less than 6 months and not more than 24 months unless the 
apprenticeship program extends beyond this timeframe.
    (3) Programs must be structured so that 50 percent of the time 
spent by participants in the program is devoted to educational services 
and activities. All educational programs and activities supported with 
funds from the demonstration program must be consistent with applicable 
State and local educational standards. Standards and procedures for 
academic credit and certifying educational attainment must be 
consistent with applicable State and local educational standards.
    (4) Wages and benefits, labor standards, and nondiscrimination 
requirements shall apply under this program as they would under the 
Youthbuild program. Housing authorities participating in this 
demonstration program may not be prevented from using funds from non-
Federal sources to increase wages and benefits under the program, if 
appropriate.

Eligible Activities

    Eligible activities, under this program, are:
    (1) Work and activities associated with the acquisition, 
rehabilitation, or construction of the housing and related facilities 
to be used in the program;
    (2) Relocation payments and other assistance required to comply 
with 24 CFR 585.308;
    (3) Costs for the ongoing training and technical assistance needs 
of the applicant that are related to carrying out this program;
    (4) Education, job training, counseling, employment and leadership 
development services and activities;
    (5) Wages, benefits and stipends for participants prior to entering 
an apprenticeship program or in the case of AFSCME an employment 
opportunity.

Restrictions

    (1) The $9 million authorized under the Public Housing 
Apprenticeship Demonstration Program in the Construction Trades and 
Public Housing Operations may not be used for wages in any post-
training employment provided under this program;
    (2) No more than 15 percent of the total grant amount may be used 
for administrative costs.

Selection

Threshold Requirements

    (1) The submission of an agreement that meets the requirements of 
the program;
    (2) Certification that participants will be eligible as defined in 
the notice;
    (3) A description of how training activities will prepare 
participants for apprenticeship and employment opportunities;
    (4) Proof that residents are involved in the planning and 
implementation of the program;
    (5) A description of efforts to provide job placement for 
successful program participants specifying the number of jobs that will 
be created; and
    (6) The supportive services, based on projected need, that will be 
provided under the program. The Secretary reserves the right to award 
grants based on distribution among the three organizations referenced 
in this notice.

Method of Selection

    Applications will be date and time stamped to authenticate when 
they were received. If the applicant meets the above mentioned 
threshold requirements, they will be funded in the order received 
(within the parameters set forth in Section IV--Maximum Awards) until 
the funding authorized for this program is no longer available.
    The Secretary reserves the right to award grants based on 
distribution among the three organizations referenced in this notice. 
If a sufficient number of applications are not received, representing 
all three organizations, the Secretary reserves the right to award 
grants to the remaining applicants among the other organizations in 
accordance with the aforementioned requirements.

Reports

    Each PHA receiving a grant shall submit to HUD an annual progress 
report (in a format to be provided by HUD) regarding the implementation 
of this program and the effectiveness of the Public Housing 
Apprenticeship Demonstration Program in the Construction Trades and 
Public Housing Operations in meeting its purpose.
    Grantees will cooperate with researchers who will be carrying out 
an evaluation of this initiative for the Department. [[Page 15438]] 

Proposal Requirements

    In order to receive the funding proposed in this notice, each PHA 
must submit a proposal describing its program in detail. Proposals are 
not limited to but must include:
    (1) A copy of the agreement between the PHA and the construction 
trade organization or AFSCME;
    (2) A description of how eligible participants will be recruited;
    (3) An accompanying implementation schedule;
    (4) A description of training and placement activities under the 
demonstration;
    (5) A description of resident involvement in the program's planning 
and implementation;
    (6) A description of efforts to provide job placement for 
successful program participants;
    (7) A description of how program success will be measured, 
describing the baseline indicators against which success will be 
measured; and
    (8) A description of how program participants' supportive service 
needs will be met.

    Dated: March 16, 1995.
Michael B. Janis,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 95-7106 Filed 3-22-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-33-P