Iowa DOT News Release

AMES, Iowa – Jan. 27, 2017 – The Iowa Department of Transportation is seeking private, nonprofit, and public organizations/agencies to submit applications to participate in the 2017 Urban Youth Corps program.

The program’s objectives are to provide transportation-related work projects and training opportunities to youth between the ages of 16 and 21 who face barriers to employment while accomplishing meaningful and productive improvements to transportation facilities. 

Examples of eligible transportation-related work projects include:

• Pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
• Safe routes for nondriver projects and systems.
• Conversion and use of abandoned railway corridors for pedestrian and bicycle trails.
• Construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas.
• Inventory, control, or removal of outdoor advertising.
• Historic preservation of transportation facilities.
• Vegetation management practices in transportation rights of way to improve roadway safety, prevent against invasive species, and provide erosion control.
• Archeological activities relating to impacts from implementation of transportation projects eligible under Title 23 of the United States Code.
• Any environmental mitigation activity.
• Projects eligible under Safe Routes to Schools, Transportation Alternatives, and Federal Recreational Trails.
• Other similar projects.

This is a cost-reimbursement program that requires participating agencies to pay expenses prior to seeking reimbursement from the Iowa DOT. In addition, each participating agency is required to provide 30 percent of the total project cost as a local match. Projects will be funded for all or part of a five-month period beginning May 1, 2017, and ending Sept. 30, 2017.

It is anticipated that $80,000 will be available for this year’s program; however, the award has not yet been finalized by the Iowa Transportation Commission. In anticipation that this award does become final in March 2017 and in order to allow successful applicants to begin projects on time during the project period, applications will be due March 1, 2017. Applicants will be notified of the results by April 30, 2017.

For application forms or general information, please contact Stacy Lentsch, Iowa DOT, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010, 515-239-1686, email stacy.lentsch@iowadot.us or visit the Iowa DOT’s website www.iowadot.gov/systems_planning/Urban_Youth_Corps.htm.

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