Extension of equitable access grant application deadline

CLASSIFICATION
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION                   Unemployment Insurance
               ADVISORY SYSTEM                              CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
          U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR                          OUI/DPM
             Washington, D.C. 20210                         DATE
                                                            November 1, 2021


ADVISORY:        UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 23-21,
                 Change 1

TO:              STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES

FROM:            ANGELA HANKS
                 Acting Assistant Secretary

SUBJECT:        Extension of Time to Submit Request for Funding under Grant Opportunity
                Announced in Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) No. 23-21

1. Purpose. To advise states that the deadline for submitting a grant application to assist states
   in promoting equitable access to unemployment compensation (UC) programs is extended to
   November 30, 2021.

2. Action Requested. The U.S. Department of Labor’s (Department) Employment and
   Training Administration (ETA) requests that State Workforce Agency Administrators
   provide information contained in this UIPL to appropriate staff.

3. Summary and Background.

   a. Summary – On August 17, 2021, the Department issued UIPL No. 23-21 advising states
      of the availability of funding for activities that promote equitable access to UC programs.
      In that UIPL, states were advised that grant applications should be submitted no later than
      October 18, 2021. The Department has determined that states may need additional time
      to submit such applications, and is extending the deadline to November 30, 2021.

   b. Background – On March 11, 2021, the President signed the American Rescue Plan Act of
      2021 (ARPA) into law (Public Law (Pub. L.) 117-2). Section 9032, ARPA, creates a
      new Section 2118 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
      (Pub. L. 116-136) and provides a $2,000,000,000 appropriation to the Secretary of Labor
      to detect and prevent fraud, to promote equitable access, and to ensure timely payment of
      benefits to eligible workers with respect to UC programs. See section 4.b. of UIPL No.
      23-21 for allowable uses for such funds to promote equitable access to UC programs.

4. Guidance. Section 6.a. of UIPL No. 23-21 sets out the required actions that states must
   complete in applying for a grant under this offering. Section 2 of UIPL No. 23-21 provides
   that the deadline for submission of applications is October 18, 2021. The Department has
   determined that states may need additional time to review UIPL No. 23-21 and to develop an
   application in response to the solicitation. Therefore, the Department is extending the

   RESCISSIONS                                               EXPIRATION DATE
   None                                                      Continuing

   deadline for submission of the grant applications to November 30, 2021. All other guidance
   and information in UIPL No. 23-21 remains the same.

5. Inquiries. Please direct inquiries to [email protected], with a copy to the appropriate
   ETA Regional Office.

6. References.

      American Rescue Plan Act, Pub L. 117-2, enacted March 11, 2021;
      CARES Act, Pub. L. 116-136, enacted March 23, 2020; and
      UIPL No. 23-21, Grant Opportunity for Promoting Equitable Access to Unemployment
       Compensation (UC) Programs, issued August 17, 2021,
       https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=7400.

7. Attachment(s). None.