State Workforce Development Grants

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 Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has launched the Community Solar Energy Sovereignty Grant Program, aimed at supporting the pre-development and development of community solar projects. With an allocation of $8.5 million, the program offers grants ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000 to facilitate community ownership and energy sovereignty in Illinois, particularly in equity investment eligible communities. These include areas affected by economic exclusion and pollution, as identified in the Restore Reinvest Renew (R3) Areas and Environmental Justice Communities. The program emphasizes community benefits, local wealth building, and addresses capital barriers in disadvantaged populations. Activities eligible for funding include early stage planning, team organization, site identification, financing, and customer outreach, with a focus on creating sustainable community solar cooperatives.

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.

The WVDEP’s Office of Abandoned Mine Lands and Reclamation (AML) administers federal funding for economic development projects on abandoned mine lands through its AMLER Program. Donor Name: West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection State: West Virginia County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/31/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: This program helps projects located on or adjacent to mine sites that ceased operations prior to the signing of the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act. Priorities Priorities as established by SMCRA: the protection of public health, safety, and property from extreme danger of adverse effects of coal mining practices. The protection of public health and safety from adverse effects of coal mining practices The restoration of land and water resources and the environment previously degraded by adverse effects of coal mining practices (including measures for the conservation and development of soil, water (excluding channelization), woodland, fish and wildlife, recreation resources and agricultural productivity.​ Eligibility Criteria Noncoal lands and water are eligible if: They were mined or affected by mining processes; They were mind and left or abandoned in either an unreclaimed or inadequately reclamated condition prior to August 3rd, 1977; There is no continuing responsibility for reclamation by the operator, permittee, or agent of the permittee under statutes of the State of Federal Government or by the State as a result of bond forfeiture. Bond forfeiture will render lands or water ineligible only if the amount forfeited is sufficient to pay the total cost of the necessary reclamation.  In cases where the forfeited bond is insufficient to pay the total cost of reclamation, monies sufficient to complete the reclamation may be sought under parts 886 or 888 of this chapter; The reclamation has been requested by the Governor of the State or equivalent head of the Indian tribe; and The reclamation is necessary to protect the public health, safety, general welfare, and property from extreme danger of adverse effects of noncoal mining practices. For more information, visit WVDEP.

This program provides financial assistance to businesses and local governments for environmental assessments and cleanup efforts at former industrial sites, promoting the revitalization of contaminated land for productive use.

The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) focuses on providing high-quality, comprehensive professional development for Career & Technical Education (CTE) teachers in Alaska. This initiative aims to integrate state academic standards with relevant technical knowledge and skills, prepare CTE educators to accommodate special populations, and ensure instructors remain updated with industry standards. Approximately $125,000 is available for FY25, anticipating up to five grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 each, to support intensive professional development in high-needs CTE areas determined by Perkins-receiving districts. Applications are due by May 3, 2024, with the grant period running from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. Proposals must deliver at least 40 hours of professional development and may include postsecondary credit options for participants.

The Minnesota State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program, overseen by the Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, invites eligible Minnesota-based small businesses to apply for funding aimed at facilitating export development activities. This initiative is designed to support businesses either embarking on exporting or looking to expand their exports from Minnesota. With a fund of approximately $200,000 available for the program year ending on June 30, 2022, the STEP program offers financial and technical assistance to qualified applicants. The grant mandates a 50% matching fund from recipients, capped at $7,500. Applications are evaluated competitively upon receipt, with a recommendation for early submission to ensure timely review, especially for activities involving travel. Rolling (applications accepted until funds are fully allocated)

This program provides funding to local governments for the development of public access roads and bridges that support new industrial investments and job creation.

This program provides funding to local governments for the development of public access roads and bridges that support new industrial investments and job creation.

This program provides $145 million in financial assistance to hospitality businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through county-established grant programs.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The $2 trillion economic relief package aims to protect the American people from the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19. Act 2A of 2020, known as the COVID-19 Emergency Supplement to the General Appropriation Act of 2019, appropriated $10,000,000 from the COVID-19 Response Restricted Account to the Department of Health. Through a sub-grant, the Department of Community and Economic Development will administer this program to eligible applicants for the rapid advancement of vaccines, treatments, and therapies in response to COVID-19. Financial Info: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The $2 trillion economic relief package aims to protect the American people from the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19. Act 2A of 2020, known as the COVID-19 Emergency Supplement to the General Appropriation Act of 2019, appropriated $10,000,000 from the COVID-19 Response Restricted Account to the Department of Health. Through a sub-grant, the Department of Community and Economic Development will administer this program to eligible applicants for the rapid advancement of vaccines, treatments, and therapies in response to COVID-19.

This funding is designed to help attract and support high-quality amateur and professional sports and e-sports events in Pennsylvania, boosting tourism and economic growth throughout the state.

This funding opportunity supports urban and community forestry projects aimed at increasing tree canopy in disadvantaged communities, available to public colleges, universities, and tribal entities in New Mexico.

This program provides financial guarantees to support local governments and developers in revitalizing underutilized properties and stimulating economic growth in communities across the Commonwealth.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to public interest projects in Berks, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and York Counties, utilizing gaming revenue from local licensed facilities.

The Department of Education (Department) is seeking intends to provide funding to local education providers for the delivery of climate education professional development in including priority for historical underserved communities by climate education. Donor Name: Department of Education State: Maine County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/03/2024 Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Priority The Department will give priority to applications that demonstrate increased student access by serving communities historically underserved by climate education, meaning local education providers that have not been able to provide current environmental or climate education instruction, partnerships, or field opportunities at the local education provider. These schools and communities may include, but are not limited to: Students receiving special education services Multilingual Learners Students from the black, indigenous, persons of color (BiPoC) community Students in alternative learning education environments Remote schools Rural schools (“rural” from Title V status) Schools with high populations of students with free or reduced-price meals, >40% Migrant students Tribal nations, including tribal schools Funding Information The Department plans to make multiple awards of varying amounts $750,000. Allowable Use of Funds Funding which is ultimately awarded may be used for the following purposes: Hiring or contracting for program staff; Providing stipends or other incentives to teachers and staff; Stipends require written justification during the contract negotiation phase, if awarded. Stipends may only be used to pay for staff time beyond their compensated time. Developing curricula, instructional materials, and purchasing related supplies; Purchasing non-instructional supplies; Covering costs associated with renting physical space for programming; and Paying administrative expenses Eligibility Criteria To be eligible to submit an application, the applicant must be a local education provider. For the purpose of this RFA, a local education provider is defined as follows: A school administrative unit as described A school in an unorganized territory A CTE Region school/program established A school funded by the Bureau of Indian Education. For more information, visit Department of Education.

The Public Safety Academy Assistance Program provides financial support, up to $24,000 per recruit, for law enforcement training academy costs and salaries of recruits attending the academy, with a single agency able to fund up to 25 recruits.

The Preschool Development Grant is a three-year federal initiative designed to bolster Delaware's early childhood system, ensuring it is inclusive and integrated to support the development and learning of all children and their families from birth through age 5. With an $8 million award for its first year, following a $4.2 million PDG B-5 grant received in December 2018, the grant aims to provide high-quality early learning experiences and facilitate a smooth transition to kindergarten for children. Approximately $4.8 million of the grant is allocated to expand home-visiting services and state-funded preschool seats, while $3.2 million is dedicated to enhancing support for professionals, including technological advancements delayed by the pandemic. Key initiatives funded by the grant include expanding state-funded preschool programs, piloting the Family Connects home visiting model, updating family materials for resource and referral, enhancing workforce support for early childhood professionals, developing a mental health consultation program for home visitors, and updating the state’s strategic plans for a cohesive birth to five strategy.

The Perkins CTE Reserve Grant, under the authority of the Wisconsin Perkins State Plan 2020, allocates secondary reserve funds to support the development, implementation, promotion, and monitoring of career pathways at the regional level. These pathways are aligned with state-identified high-skill, in-demand occupations or industries. The grant's objective is to increase the number of students accessing, participating in, and completing these career pathways, with a focus on equity and access for special populations. The grant has evolved over four years, initially focusing on creating the necessary infrastructure for regional career pathway development and then emphasizing student engagement, equitable access, and completion of career pathways, including career-based and work-based learning experiences.

This program provides financial support to destinations for hosting regional and national meetings or conventions, helping cover facility rental and transportation costs to boost local economies.