Request for Applications for Manufacturing Grants (Oregon)

The State of Oregon, acting by and through its Higher Education Coordinating Commission (“HECC”), is issuing this Request for Applications (“RFA”) awards grants to eligible entities that administer workforce programs in the manufacturing sector.

Donor Name: Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC)

State: Oregon

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 07/31/2024

Size of the Grant: More than $1 million

Grant Duration: 2 Years

Details:

Focus Areas

HECC will fund projects in the below identified focus area

Outreach, Career Awareness and Exploration
- Outreach, career awareness, and exploration that intentionally prioritizes outreach to individuals from priority populations.
Earn-and-Learn Opportunities
- Creating and/or expanding earn-and-learn education and training opportunities with outreach to priority populations.
- Earn-and-learn opportunities are those that provide compensation for individuals to participate in training opportunities that lead to employment. Earn-and-learn opportunities may include but are not limited to stipends, scholarships, paid tuition, tuition reimbursement, on-the-job training, paid internships, etc.

Projects in either focus area must prioritize equitable program participation by individuals from the following priority populations identified:

Communities of color;
Women;
Low-income communities;
Rural and frontier communities;
Veterans;
Persons with disabilities;
Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals;
Members of Oregon’s nine federally recognized Indian tribes;
Individuals who disproportionately experience discrimination in employment on the basis of age; and
Individuals who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Funding Information

HECC may award up to $12 million for this RFA.

Performance Period

July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026.

Allowable uses of funds

Allowable Costs may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Providing direct benefits to individuals, which may include:
- Paid work experience, including stipends and wages,
- Tuition and fee assistance for workforce programs, and
- Wraparound workforce development services. Wraparound workforce development services provide supports for individuals participating in workforce programs and may include but are not limited to childcare, transportation, mental health services, housing support, job-related materials and supplies, books, tuition, and other services designed to help individuals attain employment and progress along career pathways.
Creating and expanding education and training programs, including developing culturally and linguistically specific career pathways for obtaining certificates, credentials, or degrees recognized by targeted industry sectors.
- Expanding the capacity of organizations to provide workforce development services, including:
- Hiring staff or contracting for services;
- Developing strategies around workforce programs including program development
- Purchasing equipment, technology, or other supplies;
- Paying for administrative costs; and
- Any other activities necessary to increase the organization’s capacity to provide workforce programs that advance economic mobility, educational attainment, and career advancement in the healthcare sector.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to receive an award under this RFA, an Applicant must:

Be a workforce service provider or a community-based organization that administers workforce programs in the manufacturing sector;
- ORS 660.400(1)(c) defines workforce service providers as including:
  - nonprofit and public workforce education, training, and career services providers; and
  - governmental entities that provide workforce development services.
- Defines community-based organizations to include:
  - nonprofit organizations that are representative of a particular community or specific segments of a community and are located within or in close proximity to the community they serve; and
  - culturally-specific organizations.
Have an active registration in SAM.Gov and have a Unique Entity Identifier.
Have an Employer ID Number with the Internal Revenue Service.
Have and maintain a current business registration with the Oregon Secretary of State.