Employment Labor and Training Grants

This funding supports local agencies in their efforts to reduce poverty by providing essential services such as education, job training, and emergency assistance to low-income individuals and families across the country.

The Volunteer Firefighter Pension Fund Program supports local governments in offering retirement benefits to attract volunteer firefighters. Eligible entities include municipalities with populations under 100,000, fire protection districts, county improvement districts with volunteer fire department members, and counties contributing to a volunteer pension fund. These entities must have active, pension-eligible volunteer firefighters and have contributed tax revenue to the pension fund in the previous year. The program provides a state match for contributions from eligible entities, which is determined based on a statutory calculation. Applications are accepted annually from September 1 to October 31. The program also includes Accidental Death and Disability Insurance for all volunteer firefighters in Colorado, covering on-duty activities and travel to and from events. Grant renewed every year. Grant annual opening/ closing deadlines: September 1st to last business day of October

The United Engineering Foundation provides grants to advance engineering arts and sciences for the welfare of humanity. The foundation prioritizes programs in diversity, emerging technologies, engineering ethics, safety, security and leadership, and kindergarten through grade 12 education. Preference is given to innovative, broad based, interdisciplinary programs that integrate multiple engineering fields, include community outreach, and are collaborative across organizations. Projects outside an organization’s routine operations are preferred. Multiple year proposals are welcome, but funding is awarded one year at a time, and projects must be performed between January and December of the grant year. Proposals specifying that funds will not offset existing staff salaries are preferred. Eligible applicants are U.S. based organizations classified as 501(c)(3). Technical research proposals and proposals by individuals are seldom accepted. Proposals must meet submission deadlines and page limitations established by the foundation. Applications are due May 1, 2024 through the foundation’s process. Grant size and duration are not stated. Additional information is available from the United Engineering Foundation.

Under the broader Program Enhancement Projects for Adult Education, Section 243 focuses on Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE). This program supports English language learners in improving their literacy and understanding of American civics, aiming for better integration, employment, and educational opportunities. Eligible providers are encouraged to propose projects that combine IELCE educational services with integrated education and training (IET), reflecting the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s (WIOA) objectives. This funding opportunity, spanning fiscal years 2025 through 2028, promotes collaborations to fulfill the educational needs of English language learners in Connecticut. Grant renewed every year. It will be a 4-year program ( last application probably around May 2027)

The Program Enhancement Project for Adult Education, as part of the AEFLA Section 231 Comprehensive Adult Education Services, aims to expand and enhance educational programs for adults in Connecticut. With an emphasis on improving basic skills and literacy, the project facilitates effective participation in society and the workforce. It supports a variety of activities including adult literacy, workplace education, family literacy, and English language acquisition, among others. This initiative, funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), encourages collaborations to avoid service duplication, address local needs, and ensure seamless educational transitions. The project is open for proposals from eligible agencies with the intent to award multi-year grants, ensuring sustained impact from fiscal year 2025 through 2028. Grant renewed every year. It will be a 4-year program ( last application probably around May 2027)

This program provides financial support to eligible Pennsylvania companies for employee training in key industries to enhance workforce skills and improve business competitiveness.

This funding opportunity supports Idaho businesses and organizations in developing training programs to address workforce challenges and skill gaps, ultimately promoting job creation and economic mobility in the state.

This funding supports Idaho businesses in expanding their workforce and retraining employees to meet economic growth needs, ultimately fostering job creation and skill development.

This grant supports entrepreneurs and researchers in Pennsylvania by providing resources and funding to help turn innovative ideas into marketable products and services that benefit the community and beyond.

This program provides funding to regional Industrial Resource Centers in Pennsylvania to assist small and medium-sized manufacturing firms with technical support, workforce development, and process improvements to boost their competitiveness and productivity.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Grant Program supports the efforts of local organizations in Pennsylvania conducting grassroots outreach to communities about COVID-19 vaccines. Organizations will work to educate their communities on COVID-19 vaccines to improve usage of the vaccine, and overall, the health and safety of Pennsylvania. This program will engage and provide the necessary funding to community organizations to educate their community regarding COVID-19 vaccination to address hesitancy concerns and barriers. The COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Grant Program is a federally funded program. Applicants will need a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number in order to apply for funding and be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to receive funding under the program. To register for a DUNS number please visit Dun & Bradstreet website. To obtain a SAM number, visit the SAM website. Dun & Bradstreet website SAM website For general questions about the program, reporting, reimbursement, or outreach efforts in Philadelphia, visit the Vaccine Outreach Grant Program Frequently Asked Questions webpage. Vaccine Outreach Grant Program Frequently Asked Questions webpage Financial Info: The COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Grant Program supports the efforts of local organizations in Pennsylvania conducting grassroots outreach to communities about COVID-19 vaccines. Organizations will work to educate their communities on COVID-19 vaccines to improve usage of the vaccine, and overall, the health and safety of Pennsylvania. This program will engage and provide the necessary funding to community organizations to educate their community regarding COVID-19 vaccination to address hesitancy concerns and barriers. The COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Grant Program is a federally funded program. Applicants will need a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number in order to apply for funding and be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to receive funding under the program. To register for a DUNS number please visit Dun & Bradstreet website. To obtain a SAM number, visit the SAM website. Dun & Bradstreet website SAM website For general questions about the program, reporting, reimbursement, or outreach efforts in Philadelphia, visit the Vaccine Outreach Grant Program Frequently Asked Questions webpage. Vaccine Outreach Grant Program Frequently Asked Questions webpage

This funding provides financial support to designated local agencies in Pennsylvania to help low-income communities respond to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This program provides financial assistance ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to small businesses in Pennsylvania that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has introduced the Home Illinois Workforce Pilot as part of the Job Training Economic Development Program, with a $5 million budget to address homelessness and workforce development. This grant targets Continuum of Care (COC) areas, aiming to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with employment opportunities, thereby enhancing financial stability and access to permanent housing. The program prioritizes employment navigation, partnerships, support services, work readiness, and training and education. It seeks to create a system where homeless individuals can secure and retain quality jobs, contributing to their long-term economic and housing stability.

The Illinois Energy Transition Navigators Program, funded by the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, aims to establish a network of community-based providers throughout Illinois to facilitate community education, outreach, and recruitment. These providers will connect individuals to clean energy workforce and contractor development programs, with a focus on equity investment eligible communities and individuals. The program has a budget of $6 million and expects to award 13 grants ranging from $250,000 to $600,000. It targets specific hub regions and operates on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis.

This program provides funding to local workforce organizations in Illinois to enhance job quality and training in key industries like healthcare and manufacturing, ultimately benefiting workers and employers alike.

An undiversified economy and inequitable participation in the labor force are two economic challenges facing the Dakhla and Laayoune regions. Largely dependent on agriculture, fisheries, renewable energy, tourism, and phosphate mining for income, the region is susceptible to a disconnect between citizens and the government when the primary source of revenue is from a natural resource rather than the citizens themselves. Overreliance on those industries also limits private sector growth and contributes to a low rate of womens participation in the labor market. Competitive proposals will support activities targeting underserved communities, to include women, youth, and People with Disabilities (PWD). The beneficiaries should receive some combination of soft- and job-skills along with entrepreneurship training. Proposals which have an innovative approach and/or have concrete outcomes such as jobs obtained, or businesses created will be looked on favorably. Proposals can reference relevant prior experience. This project will support civil society in the Dakhla and Laayoune regions by developing the professional skills of the participants. Incremental progress in these areas is made possible through an informed and empowered population. The project will also help create the economic conditions that, in turn, allow associations and businesses to organize and approach local officials on questions and issues important to them, whether resource allocation or gender equity.

This program provides funding to local governments and organizations in Arkansas to support projects that enhance military installations and promote economic growth in surrounding communities.

The Office of Adult Career Pathways, part of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, is offering grants to eligible small businesses in Minnesota to support Diversity and Inclusion training. This initiative aims to enhance these businesses' abilities to attract, hire, and retain people of color across various roles. The program emphasizes equity, innovation, and performance in its awarding criteria, focusing on training participants facing significant employment barriers, fostering an inclusive skilled workforce, and implementing innovative solutions to workforce challenges. Grants are available up to $1,425,000 each state fiscal year, with a maximum of $30,000 available per business for the biennium, limited to one award per biennium. Applications are accepted on a continual basis until funds are depleted, with no awards exceeding $1,425,000 before July 1, 2024.

The Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program and the Low-Density Population Pilot Program, established by the Minnesota legislature in 2014 and continued in 2023, are aimed at promoting broadband infrastructure expansion in Minnesota's unserved or underserved areas. Managed by the State of Minnesota, Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), these programs provide grants to assist broadband providers with the costs of infrastructure installation. The 2024 grant application cycle, announced by DEED, will open on March 12, 2024, with an application deadline of May 10, 2024. Applicants must register and submit applications via DEED’s Grants Management System, following the detailed instructions on DEED's website. The announcement of awards is anticipated in Summer 2024, with project completion required by December 31, 2026. DEED also hosts an information webinar to guide applicants through the application process.