Pennsylvania Workforce Development Grants

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 initiative provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations, local governments, and Tribal governments in coal-impacted communities to develop and scale innovative economic projects that create job opportunities and foster local economic transformation.

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 Vision Partnership Program (VPP) – Cash Grant is offered by Chester County to its municipalities and multi-municipal groups. Established in 1996, and revised in 2010 and 2019 to align with Landscapes and then Landscapes2 and Landscapes3, the program aims to improve planning efforts at the local level. This grant program is deeply aligned with Chester County's comprehensive plan, Landscapes3, by promoting consistency and implementation of its goals, objectives, recommendations, and map. The core mission of the VPP is to foster cooperation between local governments and the County to achieve impactful, lasting, and positive benefits through innovative municipal and multi-municipal planning. The VPP targets all Chester County municipalities that have endorsed or acknowledged Landscapes3, including single municipalities or multi-municipal groups. The program aims to achieve a variety of impact goals, such as advancing consistency with the county comprehensive plan, accomplishing positive benefits for municipalities through innovative planning, and addressing community concerns through new and revised municipal plans, ordinances, and planning studies. The program prioritizes projects enabled by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), Act 247, and also includes "Planning Studies" for projects not adopted under the MPC. The VPP focuses on a broad range of eligible projects. These include comprehensive plans, open space, park, and recreation plans, zoning and subdivision ordinances and amendments (covering topics like agriculture, historic resources, natural resources, housing, and traditional neighborhood development), official maps and ordinances, urban center revitalization plans, resource protection/stewardship plans, environmental and community sustainability/resilience plans, community design guides, village master plans, heritage interpretation plans, historic resource surveys, housing plans/studies, economic development studies, transportation corridor plans/studies, streetscape master plans, multimodal plans/studies, trail feasibility studies, and plans/ordinances that support the transition to renewable or alternative energy, as well as agricultural economic development plans. Expected outcomes of the VPP include the successful adoption of plans or ordinances, for which grants of $50,000 are provided, with an additional $10,000 for each additional municipality involved. For planning studies, the expected outcome is acceptance, with grants of $30,000 plus $5,000 for each additional municipality. The strategic priorities of Chester County, as evidenced by the VPP, are to support local governments in developing robust planning programs that align with the county's comprehensive vision, ultimately leading to well-planned, sustainable communities. The theory of change is that by providing financial incentives and guidance, municipalities will be empowered to implement the principles of Landscapes3, resulting in tangible community improvements and a coordinated approach to regional development.

The UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge, powered by Innovation Works and funded by the BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania, is an annual competition designed to foster entrepreneurship with a lasting community impact in Southwestern Pennsylvania. This initiative creates cross-sector partnerships to tackle pressing community problems, aligning with a broader mission to promote social innovation through investment, grants, and educational assistance. Since its inception in 2015, the UpPrize Challenge has allocated over $3.1 million to local nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and other participants, demonstrating a commitment to empowering community-driven solutions. The primary beneficiaries of this challenge are nonprofits, businesses, and individuals who are based in and whose startup's impact is within one of the following Pennsylvania counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, or Westmoreland. The program specifically targets those who are 18 years or older and have not received $50,000 or more in previous UpPrize cycles. The core impact goal is to launch or expand startups that leverage technology to address social inequities, thereby creating a meaningful and lasting community impact in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The program's priorities and focus areas revolve around technology-driven solutions to social inequities. This is evidenced by the prize structure, which offers combined prize monies and accelerator assistance to the top three finalists to facilitate the launch or expansion of such startups. The challenge encourages innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly in areas that can demonstrate tangible benefits to the community through the application of new technologies and creative problem-solving. Expected outcomes include the successful launch or expansion of promising startups, leading to measurable improvements in social equity within the targeted counties. The challenge's structure, which awards significant prize money ($125,000 for first place, $100,000 for second, and $75,000 for third), incentivizes the development of impactful solutions. These investments are intended to translate into direct community benefits, fostering a more equitable and innovative environment in Southwestern Pennsylvania through the practical application of entrepreneurial endeavors.

The City of Scranton is offering $75,000 in grants for pre-apprenticeship programs in building trades and carpentry. These grants are designed to create employment opportunities for residents of Scranton, aligning with the city's mission to foster local economic development and workforce growth. The program aims to support organizations that can effectively prepare individuals for skilled trades, thereby addressing local employment needs and promoting career readiness within the community. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are pre-apprenticeship programs and the residents of Scranton seeking employment in the building trades and carpentry sectors. The impact goals include increasing the number of skilled workers in the city and reducing unemployment among Scranton residents. The grants prioritize programs that offer structured apprenticeship opportunities and can demonstrate a clear pathway to employment for participants. To be eligible, applicants must be registered pre-apprenticeship programs. They are required to submit a comprehensive budget, outline the expected outcomes of their program, and detail how successes will be measured. This focus on clear objectives and measurable results ensures that funding is directed towards programs with a high potential for positive community impact and accountability. The maximum grant award per application is $25,000, and the overall grant size ranges from $10,000 to $100,000. While a specific grant duration is not mentioned, the emphasis on expected outcomes and evaluation suggests a commitment to long-term impact. The City of Scranton's strategic priority is to strengthen its local workforce and economy through targeted investments in education and vocational training. The theory of change is that by supporting pre-apprenticeship programs, the city can directly contribute to skill development, job creation, and sustained economic growth for its residents.

This program provides funding and support to small businesses in Pennsylvania that are historically disadvantaged, helping them access capital and improve their participation in public contracts.

This funding program provides financial support to local defense groups and government entities in Pennsylvania to enhance the military value and sustainability of military installations and organizations within the state.

This initiative provides funding to Pennsylvania's industrial sector to support projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions through decarbonization efforts, targeting small to large manufacturers and facility operators.

This funding opportunity supports Philadelphia-based organizations and community groups with innovative strategies to protect urban gardens from development, particularly in neighborhoods facing poverty and racial inequity.

This program provides funding to support the maintenance and improvement of rail freight services in Pennsylvania, benefiting railroad companies, municipalities, and businesses that rely on rail infrastructure.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Philadelphia that help low- to moderate-income vendors and small businesses sell their handmade goods at a popular holiday market, providing them with valuable exposure and sales opportunities.

This program provides financial assistance to educational institutions in Pennsylvania for the purchase and installation of solar energy systems, helping to reduce energy costs and promote sustainability in schools.

This program provides financial assistance to businesses, municipalities, and individuals in Pennsylvania for developing geothermal and wind energy projects, promoting renewable energy and job creation.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in the Appalachian region for projects that promote economic diversification and workforce development in communities impacted by coal industry job losses.

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

This program provides funding to various electric grid stakeholders in Pennsylvania to enhance grid reliability, promote clean energy, and improve community resilience against disruptive events.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofits in the EQT Corporation's service areas, focusing on initiatives in education, community enrichment, and environmental preservation.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Washington County, Pennsylvania, to support programs and initiatives that benefit the African American community through culture, education, economic development, and community enhancement.

This funding initiative provides financial support to various organizations, including municipalities and businesses, for the construction of natural gas pipelines to enhance energy access and stimulate economic growth in Pennsylvania.