(a) Youth Opportunity Grants are awarded through a competitive selection process. The Secretary establishes appropriate application procedures, selection criteria, and an approval process for awarding Youth Opportunity Grants to applicants which can accomplish the purpose of the Act and use available funds in an effective manner in the Solicitation for Grant Applications announcing the competition.

(b) The Secretary distributes grants equitably among urban and rural areas by taking into consideration such factors as the following:

(1) The poverty rate in urban and rural communities;

(2) The number of people in poverty in urban and rural communities; and

(3) The quality of proposals received. (WIA sec.169(a) and (e).)