Deadline: 20-Mar-23
Through this Request for Proposals (RFP), the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (“MassCEC”) is offering Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants.
The Training Implementation Grants provide direct funding and technical assistance support to organizations that can build and scale career pathways leading to climate-critical priority occupations for:
- individuals from Environmental Justice (“EJ”) Neighborhoods or low-income communities;
- members of federally recognized or state-acknowledged tribes;
- members of underrepresented communities in the clean energy workforce; and
- current or former workers from the fossil fuel industry (“Fossil Fuel Workers”).
Goals
This solicitation is intended to help build job training and support capacity to fill gaps in the workforce for climate-critical sectors while creating opportunities for underserved individuals most impacted by climate change who are typically excluded from opportunities in these sectors. These funds will enable applicants to:
- Recruit individuals from EJ Neighborhoods or low-income communities, individuals from federally recognized or state-acknowledged tribes within the Commonwealth, members of underrepresented communities in the clean energy workforce, and Fossil Fuel Workers to enter climate-critical priority occupations.
- Create new and/or expand technical and job readiness training opportunities to provide the skills necessary to attain placement in climate-critical priority occupations.
- Develop and nurture new relationships with employers in climate-critical sectors to develop job placements and identify avenues for career growth.
- Establish and grow wraparound and retention support services to address social and economic barriers and increase the likelihood of long-term career success
Funding Information
- MassCEC anticipates awarding eight (8) to fourteen (14) Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants between $300,000 and $1,200,000.
- All awarded training initiatives must be completed within three (3) years of the grant award and should budget for a year of monitoring and metrics tracking after the proposed project is complete.
Eligible Projects
- Staff time devoted to the program, including outreach and recruitment, intake and assessment, training delivery, wraparound support services, job placement services, and retention services, or to general operating activities needed to launch and continue the program, where costs related to general operating do not exceed the stated indirect rate;
- Marketing, communications, and outreach activities related to recruitment for the program, such as design costs for marketing collateral, purchasing mass media spots, and website or social media costs;
- Subcontracting with training providers for curriculum delivery or with vendors providing specific training platforms or licensure testing services;
- Purchasing or leasing of specialized equipment, venue space, and other direct startup costs needed for training delivery;
- Training stipends and subsidized wages for on-the-job training/initial placements; and
- Supporting services to address barrier reduction, including transportation reimbursements, daycare subsidies, and equipment and gear subsidies.
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizations, or a partnership/team, are eligible to apply and are collectively termed “Applicants.” Partnerships are strongly encouraged and may be looked upon more favorably when scored on selection criteria to the extent that partnerships can provide a range of expertise and experience to deliver a comprehensive proposal. If multiple parties are jointly applying, one party should take on the role of leading the application team (“Lead Applicant”). If a single organization is applying for this opportunity, that organization would also be the Lead Applicant. The following entities are eligible to serve as a Lead Applicant with the following conditions:
- Community-Based Entities (often referred to as CBOs) such as community action partnerships, environmental justice organizations, neighborhood revitalization organizations, advocacy groups, affordable housing providers, affordable housing developers, and non-profits.
- Community Colleges, Colleges, or Universities, Comprehensive and Vocational High Schools, and Vocational Schools offering an after-hours or Career Technical Initiative evening training program.
- For-Profit entities such as for-profit training companies, trade associations, unions or other coalitions of businesses, clean energy installers, energy efficiency or home performance contractors, financial institutions, or other clean energy practitioners.
- Workforce Development Organizations, both non-profit and for-profit.
- MassHire Workforce Investment Boards and Career Centers.
- Note: If Applicant is not an entity with the ability to hire staff or receive funds, consider forming a partnership with another group that can act as a fiscal agent.
- Additional eligibility:
- Lead Applicants must have a Massachusetts office or staffing.
- Lead Applicant is currently in good standing with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and can provide certification if requested (COGS).
- Applicants are also eligible to apply for MassCEC’s Equity Workforce Training Planning Grants and Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Support Grants, so long as those applications are separate and distinct efforts from this Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grant application.
For more information, visit MassCEC.