Department of Interior 477 Program
477 Program Description
The main objective of the 477 Demonstration Initiative is to create a pool of funds from various Federal programs for the purpose of
simplifying fund dispersal and reporting requirements. This reduces the administrative burden Tribes face without reducing
accountability. This initiative targets employment education and training programs.
There are no separate funds under this Initiative – instead all money is money that Tribes would otherwise receive from a variety of
programs. The main benefit for Tribes is that instead of redundant review processes and applications a Tribe only has to submit one
application to one agency.
The initiative is built around three key elements: combining funds from twelve different agencies into one program, a single plan to
implement needed services, and a single reporting structure to replace twelve different reporting structures.
Long-Term Benefits
The long-term benefits of this program included being able to provide economic and educational services to more recipients for the
same budget as prior to developing a 477 plan.
Entities that successfully join the program can remain in the program as long as they exhibit success under the program. Normally
an entity must re-apply every two years but 477 participants can receive a waiver as long as they are successful with their programs.
Short-Term Benefits
If an entity currently receives funding from one or more of the twelve Federal programs that participate in the 477 Demonstration
Initiative that entity can use those funds as the basis for the 477 plan. This will allow the entity to merge reporting structure and
increase the efficiency in the delivery of the programs as each individual budget gets merged into one master budget.
For additional information, please contact
Lynn Forcia, Chief, Division of Workforce Development, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development,
U.S. Department of the Interior, at (202) 219-5270.
The main objective of the 477 Demonstration Initiative is to create a pool of funds from various Federal programs for the purpose of
simplifying fund dispersal and reporting requirements. This reduces the administrative burden Tribes face without reducing
accountability. This initiative targets employment education and training programs.
There are no separate funds under this Initiative – instead all money is money that Tribes would otherwise receive from a variety of
programs. The main benefit for Tribes is that instead of redundant review processes and applications a Tribe only has to submit one
application to one agency.
The initiative is built around three key elements: combining funds from twelve different agencies into one program, a single plan to
implement needed services, and a single reporting structure to replace twelve different reporting structures.
Long-Term Benefits
The long-term benefits of this program included being able to provide economic and educational services to more recipients for the
same budget as prior to developing a 477 plan.
Entities that successfully join the program can remain in the program as long as they exhibit success under the program. Normally
an entity must re-apply every two years but 477 participants can receive a waiver as long as they are successful with their programs.
Short-Term Benefits
If an entity currently receives funding from one or more of the twelve Federal programs that participate in the 477 Demonstration
Initiative that entity can use those funds as the basis for the 477 plan. This will allow the entity to merge reporting structure and
increase the efficiency in the delivery of the programs as each individual budget gets merged into one master budget.
For additional information, please contact
Lynn Forcia, Chief, Division of Workforce Development, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development,
U.S. Department of the Interior, at (202) 219-5270.
477 News & Announcements
Tulalip Tribes of Washington State Approved for 477 Participation
Spokane Tribe gets '477' approval
View the Federal Register notice
scroll to “Indian Affairs Bureau”.
Defining Public Law 102-477
U.S. Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration
Tulalip Tribes of Washington State Approved for 477 Participation
Spokane Tribe gets '477' approval
View the Federal Register notice
scroll to “Indian Affairs Bureau”.
Defining Public Law 102-477
U.S. Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration
NWP is a Native operated 501 (c)(3) All Rights Reserved
* The reason we support this program is because it helps Tribes streamline their Federally funded program reporting
requirements and it helps Tribes use funds to train a workforce for their economic development projects.
requirements and it helps Tribes use funds to train a workforce for their economic development projects.
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