Office of Legal Immigration Grant Program

This program has four tracks, each focused on developing or expanding strategies to improve economic and community inclusion of New Americans and immigrants in North Dakota.

• Track A- Employer Strategies designed to support foreign-born workers onsite through the development of language specific signage, training and policy manuals, human resource materials, etc., access to English language learning, cultural trainings provided by New American and Immigrant serving organizations in North Dakota either in-person or virtually for current staff, and to partner/subcontract with New American and Immigrant serving organizations in North Dakota to provide community acclimation and integration activities and services for employees as a pilot.
  • Projects in Track A may be eligible for up to $125,000. A 1:1 match is required. 
• Track B - Community-Based Strategies designed for organizations that serve New Americans and Immigrants to improve accessibility and awareness of the programs and services available to New Americans through the development or improvement of online and print resources. Strategies also include community-wide activities and events to support integration and inclusion.
  • Non-profits that serve New Americans and Immigrants in North Dakota may request funds for content development to support utilization of existing community integration and workforce readiness or training programs. Funds may be used for website and print material enhancements that improve the user experience and awareness of available programs and services provided by New American and Immigrant serving organizations. May include marketing to raise awareness among employers and communities of the services available. 
  • Activity 2 Projects i may be eligible for up to $80,000. A 4:1 match is required. 
• Track C - Community-based organizations listed in Section C, Track B Eligible Applicants, are eligible to apply for funds to partner/subcontract with New American and Immigrant serving organizations or community development and activities organizations to plan and facilitate community engagement activities that support connectedness, integration, cultural education, and appreciation. 
  • Projects in Activity 3 may be eligible for up to $20,000. A 4:1 match is required. 
• Track D - North Dakota community and municipal organizations developing integration plans by: Contract with a facilitator, working with local community stakeholders to develop a community integration plan. The plan should include actions the community partners may adopt and implement strategies that support recruitment, retention, and integration of New Americans, Immigrants, and foreign-born workers. An integration plan is needed for future federal funding opportunities and should connect to community, economic, and workforce development plans as well. Identified activities may be eligible for grant funding.
  • Projects in Activity 4 may be eligible for up to $100,000. 4:1 match is required.  

• Track A Eligible applicants include:
  • North Dakota based employers that employ or plan to employ foreign-born workers.
  • North Dakota based industry associations that represent employers that employ or plan to employ foreign-born workers.
  • Applicants must be registered and in good standing with the North Dakota Secretary of State’s office.
  • Activities must take place in North Dakota.
  • Majority of workers impacted must reside and intend to work in North Dakota.
• Track B and C Eligible applicants include:
  • North Dakota based New American and Immigrant Serving organizations and nonprofits
  • Job Development Authorities
  • Community Development Organizations
  • Chambers of Commerce
  • Political Subdivisions
  • Other organizations addressing local or regional workforce or community development needs.
  • Applicants must be registered and in good standing with the North Dakota Secretary of State’s office.
  • Activities must take place in North Dakota.
• Track D Eligible applicants include:
  • Community Development Organizations
  • Chambers of Commerce
  • Political Subdivisions
  • Other organizations addressing local or regional workforce or community development needs
  • Applicants must be registered and in good standing with the North Dakota Secretary of State’s office.
  • Activities must take place in North Dakota 
• Ineligible Applicants Include:
  • Applicants that reside or operate outside of North Dakota
  • Individuals 
  • Political organizations subject to tax under IRC section 527, such as political parties; campaign committees for candidates for federal, state, or local office; lobbying organizations, and political action committees.
  • Institutions of postsecondary education 
  • School districts and private schools

All application materials MUST be submitted using the online portal. The items listed below need to be completed and/or uploaded as part of the applicant’s submission. All applications and supportive documentation submitted will be reviewed upon final submission in a first-come, first-serve basis until all funds have been awarded by June 30, 2025.

•    Vendor registration with Office of Management and Budget to receive payment (if you have never received or have not received payment from the state within the past 12 months): Supplier Registration

Grant proposals must follow the format shown in Section II Part B, Proposal Format (below). Proposals that fail to meet the criteria set forth in Part B will not be rated and applicants will be required to resubmit using the proper format pending funding available after review of completed applications submitted by the application close date.

An initial screening for applications must be submitted online before a full application can be submitted. Click the link below to begin your initial screening.

Initial Screening

Complete proposals need to demonstrate a clear and concise explanation of the project, how recruitment and retention of New Americans and Immigrants will be improved by the employer or community-based organization’s activities. The Department requires this section be used as a template for applications. Applications will only be received and accepted through the online portal available after submitting the project screening.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants must complete all sections to be considered for review.

Proposal elements must include the following:

1. Project Description
   1. Describe the project in general:
      1. Identify which track (A or B) and applicant type is applying; provide a brief narrative of the organizations. This can include organizational charts that demonstrate capacity to carry out the proposed activities.
      2. Provide a brief description of the proposed activities.
      3. Identify how the proposed activities align with the selected track.
      4. Indicate whether the activities lead to improving recruitment, retention, and/or integration and how. 
      5. Explain how and where the activities will be provided (virtual, in-person, employer or community-based).
      6. Explain the need for this project, such as:
         1. Preparing for or supporting existing foreign-born workers and community members.
         2. Ability to apply for, perform, and advance in employment.
         3. Fostering a supportive and diverse workforce.
         4. Expanding organizational capacity and reach.
         5. Meeting an unmet or under-met employer or community need.
         6. Identify partnerships that will be subcontracted, support the work and adoption of ongoing efforts.  
             
2. Project Impact
   1. Show reach and sustainability of activities:
      1. Identify the need as it relates to the employer, community, and workforce that will participate in or be supported by the proposed activities.
      2. Identify the number of individuals that will be impacted at the employer or community level.
      3. Identify how the activity or strategy is sustainable beyond the grant period.
         1. Examples would include one-time translation services, one-time website enhancement, adoption of integration practices, etc. 
             
3. Goals and Timeline
   1. Identify an initial and a minimum of 2 progress milestones.
   2. Identify Short, intermediate, and long-term goals that the proposed activities will address.
   3. Identify a timeline for implementing activities and trainings directly or through subcontractors.
      1. Only activities that occur on and after to the award date of a fully executed agreement are allowable grant expenses.
          
4. Budget Proposal - The budget section must include a line-item budget and a narrative that explains how the line-item funds will be used and how it relates to the proposed project.
   1. Eligible grant fund expenses:
      1. Subcontractors that provide translation, training, support services, material/resource development, etc.
         1. Subcontractors may include travel and lodging costs to provide training on-site in North Dakota.
      2. Technology needed to provide or participate in virtual training or language learning for English and contextual language learning (excluding personal devices like phones and laptops). 
      3. Venues, speaker fees, equipment, supplies (excludes food, beverages, prizes, etc.) for community events.
   2. Ineligible grant fund expenses that may be used as match:
      1. Travel and lodging for training and/or certification of applicant employees.
      2. Applicant operational expenses (including but not limited to salary/fringe, organizational operations, and indirect costs).
      3. Existing subscriptions or license fees for language, translation, or other training services.
      4. Staff time, benefits and other operational costs of any applicant organization that relates to administering the proposed project.
   3. Ineligible projects or costs that cannot be used as match include:
      1. Duplication or cost off-set of services and programming already in place.
      2. Programs that are duplicative of state resources or programs.
      3. Subsidized or supplanted projects that are an extension of existing services, programs, and activities.
      4. Legal, recruitment, or housing fees associated with Visa applications or Department of Labor certifications.
      5. Development of new curriculums or training by the applicant.
      6. Funds cannot be used for lobbying at the local, state, or federal level.
      7. Development of a scholarship fund.
      8. International recruitment related fees including staffing agencies, legal services, or travel of foreign-born workers as it relates to the proposed activities.
          
5. Budget Narrative:
   1. Identify total project cost, grant funds requested, match obtained, match pending.
   2. Provide a description of the match (equipment donations or discounts, in-kind activities including staff time related to grant funded activities, cash donations) and the source supplying the match.
      1. Track A Projects will require at least one dollar of matching funds for each dollar of state funding requested.
      2. Track B Projects will require at least one dollar of matching funds for every four dollars of state funding requested.
   3. Describe how the match/in-kind and match/in-kind provider relate to the proposed activities.
   4. Explain any other fund-leveraging and activities beyond match.
   5. Bids, Quotes, Estimates, proposals are required to demonstrate how costs are determined as it relates to the funds requested.
       

6. Budget Breakout - The budget breakout will be formatted as shown below. This is a template. The line items fields can be changed to reflect applicant activities and funding needs.

   Total Project Cost (Grant funds + Match/In-kind): $    
   

1. General Match Requirements
   1. Cash, equipment, supplies and/or in-kind (i.e., salary/fringe, mileage, and lodging) may be used as match under the Office of Legal Immigration Grant.
   2. Match must be identified in the proposal. In some instances, match may not be fully obtained at the time the proposal is made. This is allowable, however in that instance, the grant award will be contingent upon submission and approval of match by the Division.
   3. Identified match collected prior to grant award date will not be eligible. Only eligible costs incurred during the grant period are eligible.
   4. All match contributions must be properly valued by the donator and clearly identifiable from the grantee’s records and have adequate supporting documentation.
   5. Match should be from the private sector. State and federal funds may qualify as match if the source of the funds allows. If using state or federal funds as match, applicant must specify the source and demonstrate that they can be used as match per funding source regulations.
   6. Match must be approved by the Division and must be directly related to the approved project.
   7. Project records must include documentation to demonstrate that match was used to support acquisition or provision of the approved grant project.
   8. All match used to support grant reimbursement must be used solely for this project during the grant agreement period
       

• All cash match reported must be supported by documentation of the day the cash was received and the related accounting records that show the cash was used for the project.
• Cash match must be applied to the project and must be spent within the grant agreement dates of the project.
   

• Match from equipment or supplies donation or discount must include documentation to support valuation of the donated/discounted item(s) at the time of use for the project. The match contributor must describe the item(s), state the value, and explain how the value was determined. The match contributor must sign and date the document containing this information. Note: If the match contributor is unwilling to provide this information, the requestor will contact the Division for assistance in determining an alternate method.
• Donation of equipment, supplies, or in-kind activities received prior to use for the project will not be eligible as match for this project.

Note: Educational discount is an approved match, but the Division discourages using this as a form of match.
 

• In-kind match is defined as temporary use of equipment, space, or personal services. In-kind match can also include, but not limited to, salary/fringe and/or travel (mileage and lodging).
• Documentation of in-kind match must include a description of the process for determining the value of the services.
• If in-kind personal service is provided on a fixed contract amount, the documentation must include the services to be provided, the name of individual(s) providing the services and the time period in which the services are to be provided.
• If the in-kind personal service is provided based on an hourly amount, the documentation must include a description of the services provided, the name of individual(s) providing the in-kind personal services, the hourly rate for the service and a time sheet with an hourly log reflecting the time services were provided.
• In-kind space must be valued at market rate for the area. Documentation must include the methodology for determining the rate and proof of rates for the market.