# Plain Language Summary: Jobs Now Act of 2021

This bill creates a temporary two-year program that gives money to local governments and community organizations to help them keep workers employed and hire new people. The federal government would set aside $1 billion total for this program, split between 2022 and 2023. Local governments and nonprofits would compete for these grants by submitting applications explaining how they'd use the money.

The main requirement is that at least half of any grant money must go toward keeping current employees from being laid off due to budget cuts. For example, if a city is facing financial problems and planning to fire teachers, police officers, or other public workers, this grant money could be used to save those jobs. If an organization doesn't need to spend the full 50 percent on keeping existing workers, they can use less. After handling the retention part, organizations can use any leftover money to hire new people for public service jobs or provide training for new positions. Community organizations also have the option to create private sector jobs, not just government positions.

The bill gives preference to areas that are struggling the most—places with high unemployment, foreclosure rates, and poverty get priority for receiving grants. It also encourages grant recipients to focus on hiring or training veterans, people with disabilities, those currently receiving unemployment benefits, and workers who lost jobs due to industry closures. The Department of Labor would oversee the program and must report back to Congress within two years on how many people were hired, trained, or retained through these grants, plus what strategies worked best.

Jobs Now Act of 2021

Wilson, Frederica S.

Jobs Now Act of 2021 This bill directs the Department of Labor to carry out a two-year pilot program to award grants to general local governmental units or community-based organizations to retain, employ, or train employees who provide a local government unit with a public service (i.e., job creation). At least 50% of grant funds must be used to retain employees who&nbsp;would otherwise be laid off due to budget cuts. Labor must encourage grantees to use grant funds to retain, employ, or train veterans, individuals with disabilities, individuals receiving unemployment benefits, or dislocated workers.