Workforce Development Capital Grant Program

The Workforce Development Capital Grant Program, administered by Empire State Development (ESD), is designed to support capital needs for workforce training providers throughout New York State. ESD is New York’s chief economic development agency, working to promote job creation, retention, and growth across various sectors. Through this grant, ESD aims to enhance the infrastructure of organizations delivering training that leads to industry-recognized credentials in high-demand fields, particularly in industries central to New York's economic strategy. This program offers a total of $35 million in funding, with individual awards ranging between $100,000 and $3 million. Grant funds may be used for the modernization or construction of training facilities or the purchase and installation of machinery and equipment necessary for workforce training. Preference is given to applicants that can demonstrate the ability to cover more than 50% of the total project cost from other funding sources. Eligible uses of funding also include furniture and fixture installation, building renovation or expansion, and up to 15% for soft costs such as architectural and engineering expenses. Applicants must be organizations that are actively engaged in workforce development. Eligible applicants include community-based and nonprofit organizations, chambers of commerce and trade associations, governmental organizations such as municipalities and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), public and private higher education institutions, career and technical education providers, labor training programs, and for-profit training providers. All applicants must submit a completed Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) and provide supporting materials including an organizational chart, project budget, three years of audited financials, and a detailed training overview. Training programs must be developed in partnership with businesses to ensure curriculum alignment with workforce demand and facilitate job placement. Applications are assessed based on project concept and readiness, financial planning, and program impact. Projects must be able to commence within six months of award and be completed within four years, with preference for those completed in two years. Strong applications will demonstrate how capital investment will enhance capacity, serve historically marginalized populations, and align with documented industry needs. Evaluation criteria also consider the sustainability of the program beyond the grant period and the applicant's capacity to execute projects of similar scale. The grant is particularly focused on programs that serve un/underemployed individuals, marginalized populations, and provide clear career pathways to in-demand occupations. Letters of commitment from industry partners are mandatory and should detail their role in the program, such as financial support, curriculum development, or hiring commitments. Programs that integrate job placement strategies such as apprenticeships, internships, or job shadowing are strongly favored. As of now, applications are not being accepted for this program. Interested organizations are encouraged to sign up for updates via the Office of Strategic Workforce Development (OSWD) to be notified when the application cycle reopens. Additional inquiries may be directed to workforce@esd.ny.gov. No specific open or close dates have been announced for the next cycle, and applicants are advised to monitor updates from ESD for future announcements.