Program projects are funded for up to a five-month period between May 1 and Sept. 30 each year, with sponsoring organizations paying expenses for the projects first and then reimbursed by the Iowa DOT. Reimbursement funds for 2016 total $80,000.
Eligible projects for the program include vegetation management in transportation rights of way to improve safety; converting abandoned railway corridors into pedestrian and bike paths, turnouts and overlooks; and construction and transportation facility preservation.
Organizations wishing to sponsor projects must complete a request for proposal application form to the Iowa DOT by March 1. IDOT uses a 100-point system to score the application, with 50 points for design, 30 points for how the project provides youth with work skills and 20 points for budget considerations.
More information on the 2016 Urban Youth Corps program is available here.
