The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the “Department” or “DCEO”) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity to launch the Illinois Energy Transition Navigators Program.
Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
State: Illinois
City: Selected Cities
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/15/2023
Size of the Grant: $250,000 to $600,000
Grant Duration: 36 months
Details:
The goal is to establish a network of community-based providers across the state of Illinois. These providers will offer community education, outreach, and recruitment services to encourage eligible individuals to participate in clean energy workforce and contractor development programs.
The Energy Transition Navigators Program will provide outreach and recruitment for the CEJA workforce and contractor programs. The Department seeks to contract with the community-based provider(s) (“Navigator Teams”) to connect people to the CEJA workforce and contractor programs. Navigator Teams will provide outreach and recruitment services to eligible populations to ensure they are aware of and engaged in the statewide and local workforce and contractor development programs.
Navigator Teams will prioritize individuals eligible for the following programs:
- Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program. Creates 13 workforce hubs run by community-based organizations to provide clean jobs training and a career pipeline for eligible participants.
- Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program. Creates 3 preapprenticeship centers to train equity investment eligible individuals for careers in clean energy sector construction and building trades.
Additionally, Navigator Teams will engage eligible individuals to participate in the following programs:
- Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program Creates 13 regional contractor incubators to provide training, mentorship, low-cost capital, business planning, low interest loans, and recruitment opportunities for small clean energy businesses and contractors.
- Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program . A program for contractors seeking to expand their capacity and fill the role of the prime contractor on clean energy projects through a structured five-year program with mentorship, operation support grants, business coaching, assistance applying for certifications, procurement programs, and preparing bids.
Performance Goals and Measures
- A description of the Navigator Team’s outreach, education, and recruitment efforts;
- The number of individuals who participate in outreach events and activities.
- The number of individuals who apply to each of the CEJA Workforce and Contractor Programs, with support from the Navigator Team, and what specific support services were provided. Applicant numbers should be broken down by race, gender, age and location.
- Through coordination with the workforce programs, the number of individuals who complete the training and who are placed in jobs.
- Program success stories of individuals who have been placed in the CEJA Workforce and Contractor Programs.
Funding Information
- Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is up to $6 million annually, subject to appropriation. Awards will range from $250,000 to $600,000 annually. The Department expects to make up to 13 awards though this NOFO.
- The period of performance is expected to be up to 36 months through grant awards that come with a one-year initial term, with the Department renewing each year for 2 additional years unless the grantee either declines to continue or fails to meet reasonable performance measures that consider program timeframes
Program Requirements
The focus of the Energy Transition Navigator Program is:
- to provide outreach and community education to eligible populations to raise awareness of opportunities to participate in CEJA programs, with priority to individuals eligible for the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program and the Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program;
- to provide services to assist those individuals with enrollment and participation in those programs; and
- to engage with diverse community, employer, and workforce stakeholders to effectively reflect both the opportunities and the needs of the emerging regional clean energy economy.
Geographic Coverage
Navigator Teams may propose to provide services in and around one or more of the 13 regional workforce hubs of the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program: Chicago (South Side), Chicago (Southwest & West Sides), Waukegan, Rockford, Aurora, Joliet, Peoria, Champaign, Danville, Decatur, Carbondale, East St. Louis, and Alton. Applicants should propose the region(s) they intend to serve and explain how they intend to reach equity investment eligible communities in the hub locations, as well as nearby regions. For instance, a team serving the Decatur hub could also propose to serve Springfield. A team serving the Peoria hub could propose to serve Bloomington-Normal as well.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants are community-based providers. One organization may propose to deliver all services or may subcontract with or partner with other entities to provide program elements or conduct outreach to specific populations or communities. Navigator Teams must demonstrate:
- A history of providing education, outreach, and recruitment activities to low-wage or low-skilled workers or individuals from economically disadvantaged communities.
- The ability to reach and recruit from eligible populations.
- Relationships with relevant stakeholders, including Small Business Development Centers, economic development organizations, local employers, labor unions, trade groups, educational institutions or organizations working with eligible populations, environmental justice organizations, and any other entities that provide jobs, including businesses and other nonprofit organizations.
- The ability to effectively serve eligible populations and economically disadvantaged communities.
- The ability to engage with CEJA workforce and contractor program managers once they are selected, including:
- The Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program,
- The Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program,
- The Clean Energy Contractors Incubator, and
- The Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator
For more information, visit DCEO.
