The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the “Department” or “DCEO”) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to launch the Illinois Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program.
Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
State: Illinois
City: Selected Cities
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/01/2023
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $3,000,000
Grant Duration: 12 months
Details:
The Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program is aligned with Illinois’ workforce, education, and economic development priorities. Billions of dollars of funding in clean energy technology and infrastructure through CEJA and other state and federal funding sources over the next decade have the potential to be a catalyst for the full inclusion of program participants in the clean energy workforce. By providing training, employment, and career development, the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program will help to increase and sustain prosperity in all communities.
This NOFO will award grants to fund at least one Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hub. Each Workforce Hub will serve its “equity investment eligible communities” and “equity eligible persons” (as defined in this NOFO) that are located in or near the Workforce Hub’s location. If the Workforce Hub site is not physically located within the Workforce Hub municipality listed below, then the applicant must demonstrate that the Workforce Hub site is geographically “near” and readily accessible to individuals within the Workforce Hub municipality.
- Chicago (South Side)
- Chicago (Southwest and West Sides)
- Waukegan
- Rockford
- Aurora
- Joliet
- Peoria
- Champaign
- Danville
- Decatur
- Carbondale
- East St. Louis
- Alton
Workforce Hub Components
The Workforce Hub grantees and project partners will deliver the following five major program components:
- Participant recruitment
- Provide outreach, in coordination with Energy Transition Navigators and other community partners, to recruit program-eligible individuals for the training program.
- Training delivery
- Provide training, certification preparation, job readiness, and skill development to program participants, utilizing the Clean Jobs Curriculum Framework to prepare people for entry-level clean energy jobs. The training will consist of a bridge program (essential employability skills and clean energy basics) and at least two job-specific training options, selected by each Workforce Hub and based on local clean energy workforce needs.
- Employer partnerships
- Develop partnerships with entities that provide clean energy jobs, including businesses, nonprofits, and worker-owned cooperatives, to ensure Program participants have priority access to employment training, work-based learning opportunities, and hiring activities.
- Barrier reduction services
- Provide supportive services to mitigate challenges participants may face in accessing and completing the training. Services may include but are not limited to transportation costs, technology assistance, emergency bill payments, personal health, childcare assistance, tuition assistance, food assistance, referrals to other services, tutoring, and more.
- Transition services
- Provide transition services to participants following completion to help them find jobs, succeed in the workplace, and build their careers.
Performance Goals and Measures
The goals and anticipated outcomes of the program, include number of participants served, number of certifications achieved, number of individuals who complete the different job-specific training options, numbers of participants employed in clean energy jobs post-graduation or enrolled in other advanced training programs.
Funding Information
Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is up to approximately $22.9 million for the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program and up to $15 million for the Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Services Program for a statewide total of $37.9 million for the first 12 months of the program. Awards will range from approximately $500,000 to $3,000,000 for the delivery of the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program in each region identified in Section A of this NOFO. The initial grant awards range from approximately $500,000 to $2,000,000 for the delivery of the Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Services to support the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program in each of the regions identified in this NOFO. The initial grant awards for the two programs combined will range from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 for each Workforce Hub location identified in this NOFO.
Project Period
The initial period of performance is expected to be 12 months. The Department intends to offer up to two (2) twelve (12) month renewals for each award based on the performance of the grantee.
Program Requirements
The focus of the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program and the Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program is to prepare program-eligible participants to successfully gain employment in the clean energy industry. Illinois residents who are aged 18 and above can enroll in the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program. Participant placement will be prioritized in each hub site where the applicant pool allows:
- One-third of program placements are for people residing in an area that is BOTH an R3 area and an environmental justice community. Preference will be given to applicants who face barriers to employment, such as low educational attainment, prior involvement with the criminal legal system, language barriers, and applicants that are graduates of or current members of the foster care system.
- Two-thirds of program placements are for people who reside in EITHER an R3 area OR an environmental justice community. Preference will be given to applicants who face barriers to employment, such as low educational attainment, prior involvement with the criminal legal system, language barriers, and applicants that are graduates of or current members of the foster care system.
- Priority for the remaining placements must be given to displaced energy workers or persons who face barriers to employment, such as low educational attainment, prior involvement with the criminal legal system, language barriers, and applicants that are graduates of or current members of the foster care system. Refer to the definition of “Equity investment eligible communities” above for more information about R3 areas and environmental justice communities.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants are community-based organizations, defined as organizations that:
- Provide employment, skill development or related services to members of the community;
- Includes community colleges, nonprofits, and local governments;
- Has at least one main operating office in the community or region it serves; and
- Demonstrates relationships with residents and other organizations serving the community.
Competitive applications will include a team of multiple partner organizations that collectively demonstrate the following:
- The ability to effectively serve all individuals, including diverse and equity focused populations by providing employment services;
- Agreements with employers, nonprofit organizations, or other industry organizations for workbased learning opportunities and to facilitate job placement or on-the-job training opportunities.
- The ability to deliver the Clean Energy Jobs Curriculum Framework, including meeting instructor training and certification requirements. The Curriculum Framework outlines instructor requirements for the Bridge Program training component, as well as the job-specific training options. For instance, solar training must be delivered by a NABCEP registered training provider.
- The ability to recruit, prescreen and provide training to prepare workers for employment in the clean energy industry.
- Capacity to provide supportive services, ongoing engagement during and beyond training, and job retention services to participants.
- Capacity to offer training in locations that are accessible to equity investment eligible persons in the service region
For more information visit, DCEO.
