Workforce Upskilling for HVAC Supply Chain Manufacturers

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has announced the availability of funding through the Workforce Upskilling for HVAC Supply Chain Manufacturers program. This initiative is supported by the Workforce, Technology and Economic Development Fund under the Fast Track Training Support Program. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to strengthen the workforce serving Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC) and plumbing supply chain manufacturers in St. Clair County, Illinois, an area critical to the state’s advanced manufacturing economy. The program targets workforce development challenges such as outdated skill sets, limited leadership development pipelines, and the need to adopt advanced production technologies. It aims to support incumbent worker training and job placement by partnering with manufacturers to design and implement employer-driven training curricula. These training programs must lead to industry-recognized credentials and be tailored to the specific skill needs of HVAC and plumbing supply chain employers operating in or relocating to the region. Eligible applicants must be organizations administering the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title IB programs in St. Clair County. The successful applicant will collaborate closely with manufacturers to develop training plans, identify suitable training providers, and track participant outcomes such as job placement, credential attainment, retention, and wage progression. The grant covers reasonable, allowable training costs and supports pre-award costs incurred from the date of the Notice of State Award to the start of the grant period. However, construction and capital costs are ineligible. Applicants must be registered in the Illinois GATA Grantee Portal and meet all associated compliance requirements, including having a valid FEIN, SAM registration, and being in good standing with relevant state and federal entities. The application package must include a uniform application, uniform budget, signed disclosures, and a detailed program narrative addressing goals, organizational capacity, planned activities, budget justification, and anticipated impact. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale across criteria such as project need, applicant capacity, and program quality. The application window is from November 10, 2025, through January 9, 2026, with only one award of $2,000,000 expected. The period of performance runs from January 1, 2025, through November 30, 2027. Submissions must be made electronically through the SmartSheet portal provided. The contact for this opportunity is John Barr at john.w.barr@illinois.gov.

Applications scored on 100-point scale; align budget to scope; highlight prior workforce program success in St. Clair County.