Youth Employment Program Frequently Asked Questions

2026-27 Tennessee Youth Employment Program (TYEP)

What is the application deadline?

The deadline to submit a proposal for the Tennessee Youth Employment Program (TYEP) is April 24, 2026.

Will the application deadline be extended?

 The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development (TDLWD) is not planning to extend the submission deadline due to contract awarding timelines.

Please note: If necessary and to exhaust all funding available for TYEP, TDLWD reserves the right to award incomplete proposals or proposals which are received after April 24, 2026. However, review and awarding of funding to support these proposals is not guaranteed. Subsequently, if a proposal received after the submission deadline is approved for funding, the awardee should expect delays in contract processing and the ability to access funding.

If a grantee is a Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB), will they need to screen for WIOA eligibility?

Yes, a Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) will need to screen for WIOA eligibility.  This is a “no wrong door” approach to Work Experience.  If they qualify for WIOA put them in WIOA; if they do not qualify for WIOA put them in TYEP.  

What is the submission process for TYEP?

Proposals should be emailed to TN.Youth@tn.gov. Once approved by programmatic staff, proposals will be entered into the grants management system, SmartSimple, for the contract awarding process.

Are letters of support required?

Yes, we will need at least two letters from employers in high-demand industries in your area. stating they support TYEP and will hire youth from this program. We will also need at least two letters from agencies that work with either foster care, justice-involved youth, or youth with disabilities stating they have a pipeline of youth that will participate in TYEP.

Will incomplete proposals (i.e., without Letters of Support) be considered, if the proposal application is later completed and ready to submit into SmartSimple?

Yes, TDLWD reserves the right to award incomplete proposals or proposals which are received after April 24, 2026. However, review and awarding of funding to support these proposals is not guaranteed. Subsequently, if a proposal received after the submission deadline is approved for funding, the awardee should expect to experience delays in contract processing and the ability to access funding.

Other than targeting outreach to priority populations – youth identified as low-income, justice-involved, youth with disabilities, or in/aging-out of foster care – and giving their applications priority, are there any other requirements for ensuring priority of service?

No, low-income youth, justice-involved, youth with disabilities, or those currently in/aging-out of foster care are the only identified priority populations which must be served through TYEP. The proposal could identify additional populations of youth which the applicant may serve through TYEP.

What is the maximum allowable payment to participants of TYEP and how was this calculated?

The maximum amount per participant is $3,000. However, the total amount per participant will ultimately depend on the target number of youth each grantee will serve. Negotiations regarding the total number of participants and funding will be held with grantees if TDLWD determines a need.

Does TYEP funding allow for the applicant to hire or pay for program staffing costs?

Up to 15 percent (15%) of the total award may be used by the awardee to support the administration of the TYEP including staffing. However, there is no specific staffing (service provider) cost allocation identified. Where possible, awardees should use existing infrastructure to provide support to the TYEP.

Can a youth be paid as a 1099 employee?

No. Youth need to be paid as a W-2 employee by the employee of record.

Can a youth work for a relative?

No. A youth cannot work for the family business, his parents, stepparents, siblings, step-siblings, uncles or aunts, cousins or grandparents.

Can a youth work at the same place as a relative?

Yes. A youth can work at the same place as a relative as long as they are not the direct supervisor or signing off on the youth’s timesheet.

How does the youth get paid?

The youth will be paid by the grantee and then reimbursed by TDLWD, or the business will pay the youth as the employer of record and then be reimbursed by the grantee. Whoever is paying the youth will be the employer of record.

What data will need to be tracked?

We will need the number of enrollments, expenditures, what industry the youth went into, was the youth offered a job, average amount per youth spent during this program, the point of contact for each employer satisfaction survey for the employer and youth, and proof that soft skills development was performed.

The TDLWD will have a system that the grantee will use to capture some of this information.  If TDLWD does not have a way to capture, it will be the grantees’ responsibility to capture and report this information to TDLWD.  

What is Labor Market Information (LMI) and where can I find it?

Applicants must align work experiences to industries demonstrating demand using current regional or local Labor Market Information (LMI).

Priority industries may include, but are not limited to:

  • Healthcare & Social Assistance
  • Agriculture
  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
  • Information Technology
  • Construction & Skilled Trades
  • Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
  • Any other proven in-demand industry in the grantee's service area.

Applicants must cite LMI sources, examples include:

What are the major changes in this FOA that was not in the past FOAs?

  • Using LMI information when selecting employers for TYEP.
  • At least 50% of placements must be in high-demand industries.
  • Soft Skill development
  • Satisfaction Surveys created and sent to TDLWD for the youth and the employer
  • 50% of youth served are new to TYEP

What happens after the program?

All youth should know about the American Job Center, where they can go to get help with resume writing, job search, and interviewing skills.