[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]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part VI Department of Housing and Urban Development _______________________________________________________________________ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing _______________________________________________________________________ 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 ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [[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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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