Global Talent Office Grant Program

Global Talent Office Grant Program is sponsored by North Dakota Department of Commerce. This program supports employers and communities in North Dakota in recruiting, retaining, and integrating New Americans and legal immigrants into the state's workforce and communities.

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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, 2027.

Section I Grant Information The Global Talent Office Grant is newly developed in response to Senate Bill 2142 enacted by the Sixty-eighth Legislative Assembly to create the Office and develop a pilot program to support businesses pursuing or employing legal immigrants and to support communities to develop immigrant integration plans and activities.

Improving employer awareness of and access to international recruitment pathways, preparedness to employ foreign-born individuals, and support economic inclusion in the workforce will improve recruitment and retention of foreign-born workers and those that are internationally educated and credentialed.

Investing in community integration activities and increasing awareness of community-based resources and programs will improve the lived experiences and long-term retention of New Americans and immigrants living in North Dakota. The Global Talent Office grant is designed to support eligible employers and community-based organizations in their efforts to recruit, retain, and integrate New Americans in North Dakota.

Section II Grant Proposals 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, 2027.

Section III Proposal Review and Approval A. Proposal Review and Rating Review and rating of proposals is conducted by the Workforce Development Division of the Department of Commerce. The Division will work with designated individuals to clarify proposals, verify match requirements, and to ensure completeness.

B. Application Timeline & Grant Approval Applications will be reviewed by the division. Applicants will be notified of follow-up questions and clarification in approximately 3 weeks from application period closed date.

Notice of award will be issued in approximately 4 weeks from received date. The Division will officially notify the grantee of the award by contacting the respective applicant. The notification will include: Request that the applicant name an authorized agent as the contact with the division on the specific grant.

Request that the grantee not publicize the award, pending a press release by the Department of Commerce first. Section IV Grant Agreement Grant Agreement Development Upon approval of a grant proposal, the division will develop a grant agreement. The division will work with the authorized agent to finalize grant agreement details.

The budget breakout section of the grant proposal will be inserted into the grant agreement under Section 3, Compensation. Payment of grant funds will be based on the grantee reaching milestones. The payment schedule for funding will be made in accordance as follows: Fifty percent (50%) of the total award will be disbursed upon execution of the grant agreement and successful submission of Request for Funds form.

Up to fifty percent (50%) of the total award will be disbursed upon final reporting and documentation of all project expenses (grant and match) from the grantee up to the total award amount. Remainder of funds will be provided, upon report and documentation by the awardee after the second and third milestone described in the application has been met. All unspent funds must be returned to the State by July 15, 2027.

Performance reporting for the Office of Legal Immigration Grant Program is required under the Common Accountability Measures established by the Division of Workforce Development in compliance with NDCC 54-60-19. 2. The GRANTEE will submit the performance data as requested by the Department of Commerce, Workforce Division Performance Accountability Reporting.

The GRANTEE must submit metrics for outcomes of short, intermediate, and long-term goals and additional reporting requirements determined based on individual proposed project activities. Grantee will send separate notification of delivery (exclusive of data) to the Department of Commerce via email to: officeimmigration@nd. gov. The subject line must read: Office of Legal Immigration Grant Reporting.

Progress Narratives will be required at a minimum every 3 months from the commencement of the agreement and with any request for funds disbursement and budget modifications (as outlined in the agreement). The required information will be sent out with the required documentation form upon approval.

The progress narrative must include a brief report of implementation progress and basic demographic information, which will include progress on goals identified in the project proposal description and implementation. The progress narrative must also include a detailed report of expenditures under this grant, including both grant and match funds.

(Note: If it is determined that grant funds have been utilized for ineligible expenses, the Department of Commerce may terminate the grant and seek recoup the misused funds). Progress narratives will be submitted with requests for funds in the grant portal or may be sent via email to: officeimmigration@nd.

gov. The subject line must read: Office of Legal Immigration Grant Progress Narrative ending (date) The final report must include a complete line-item list of how grant and matching funds were used and must be submitted within 30 days of the agreement expiration. Expenditure Report/Request for Funds Payment of grant funds will be made as outlined, in the signed agreement.

Requests for funds will include a clear description and valuation of match received to date. Request for Funds will be sent submitted directly in the grant portal. NOTE: Failure to comply with the reporting requirements for the Grant may result in termination of the Grant.

Grant Agreement Modification The grantee will contact the Department of Commerce to get prior approval on changes to match, authorized use of grant funds, grant agreement term, or funding. Approved requests may be denied if not appropriate to the grant or may require grant agreement modification prior to implementation.

A line-item deviation from grant agreement budget of no more than 10% will be accepted without prior permission and will not require grant agreement modification. This deviation allowance does not include total grant agreement amount. Grant agreement modifications should be completed during the grant agreement period.

Near the end of the grant agreement, the Division will notify the grantee via letter and or email, that the grant agreement has been closed. This notification signifies the end of the grant agreement and releases the administrator and the grantee from any further obligations under the grant agreement. The Division will monitor at least 50% of all grants during the grant term.

Monitoring via desk review is allowable if documentation can satisfactorily support the review. Monitoring times will be targeted to allow the grantee to have submitted at least one request for funds. This gives the monitor and grantee an opportunity to review the process more completely.

The Office of Legal Immigration Grant is administered by the Workforce Development Division of the Department of Commerce. References to ‘Division’ throughout this guide are in reference to the Workforce Development Division. Questions may be directed to: ND Department of Commerce Bismarck, North Dakota 58502-2057 Phone: 701-328-5393 E-mail: officeimmigration@nd.

gov