The Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants aim to provide underrepresented populations with opportunities to enter and advance in the Massachusetts clean energy workforce. These grants address systemic barriers faced by Environmental Justice (EJ) neighborhoods, low-income communities, members of Federally recognized and State-acknowledged Tribes, and fossil fuel workers, among others. By offering up to $1,200,000 over two to three years, the grants support career pathways and training programs tailored to climate-critical occupations. Additional funding of up to $400,000 is available for clean energy career awareness and preparedness initiatives. Applicants can focus on one or both strands but must submit separate applications for each.
These grants seek to foster equity while addressing a significant workforce gap in clean energy. With a projected need for 34,000 new clean energy workers by 2030, the program emphasizes employer collaboration, systemic integration, and career outcomes for participants. It also highlights the importance of providing living-wage opportunities, with median wages exceeding $36 per hour (2023 dollars), to historically underserved communities. Projects must demonstrate strategies for removing barriers to participation and offer training aligned with industry needs.
Eligible applicants include a variety of organizations, such as community-based entities, educational institutions, workforce development groups, trade and labor organizations, and federally recognized tribes. Partnerships are strongly encouraged and may enhance the competitiveness of applications. Previous grant recipients may apply for this funding if their proposed projects are distinct from prior efforts. Eligibility specifics and requirements are outlined in the Request for Proposals (RFP).
Applications must be submitted via email by the deadlines of January 24, 2025, or May 2, 2025. Required documents include authorization and acceptance forms, program and organization budgets, proposed schedules, and training progress report templates. Pre-application resources, such as webinars, office hours, and FAQs, are available to assist applicants. The application process also emphasizes the importance of leveraging existing data and workforce development reports to strengthen proposals.
Selection criteria are expected to include the project's alignment with program goals, the level of employer and community engagement, the potential for scaling workforce initiatives, and the ability to address barriers faced by target populations. Notifications of award decisions will be made in March 2025 for January submissions and July 2025 for May submissions. Applicants not selected in a round may reapply in subsequent cycles.
The program timeline includes an RFP release on November 15, 2024, and a pre-application webinar on December 6, 2024. Office hours will be available on various dates leading up to the application deadlines. MassCEC encourages applicants to consider complementary funding opportunities, such as Equity Workforce Planning and Capacity Grants or the Clean Energy Internship Program, to expand their impact on Massachusetts’ clean energy workforce.
