Through this Request for Proposals (“RFP”), the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (“MassCEC”) is offering Equity Workforce Planning Grants (“Planning Grants”) and Equity Workforce Capacity Grants (“Capacity Grants”).
Donor Name: Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (MassCEC)
State: Massachusetts
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/20/2024
Size of the Grant: $894,422
- Planning: $20,000-$50,000
- Capacity: $30,000-$150,000
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
The Planning and Capacity Grants are designed to help provide direct funding and technical assistance support to organizations interested in planning or adding key capacity for programming focused on supporting one or more of the following populations:
- Existing or emerging Massachusetts-based Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (“MWBEs”) companies operating or expanding into climate-critical fields;
- Individuals from Environmental Justice (“EJ”) Neighborhoods or low-income communities;
- Members of federally recognized or state-acknowledged tribes;
- Members of underrepresented communities in the clean energy workforce; and
- Current or former workers from the fossil fuel industry (“Fossil Fuel Workers”).
Goals
The equity workforce program seeks to expand access to career and business opportunities in climate-critical fields. A robust, well-trained, and inclusive workforce is vital to achieving and sustaining the Commonwealth’s climate goals, including Net Zero by 2050. The equity workforce program addresses the need to grow Massachusetts’ clean energy workforce by prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the full spectrum of economic opportunity, aiming to produce both an increasingly diverse bench of highly trained new workers and a wider array of thriving MWBEs to help lead climate-critical work.
Applicants may apply for Planning or Capacity Grants for programming that falls within one (1) or more of the following categories:
- Strand A: Career Pathway Training Leading to Employment in Climate-Critical Priority Occupations;
- Strand B: Clean Energy Career Awareness, Career Exploration, and Preparedness; or
- Strand C: Business Support Services Leading to the creation or expansion of MWBEs in Climate-Critical Fields.
Funding Information
MassCEC anticipates awarding a total of Eight Hundred Ninety-Four Thousand Four Hundred Twenty-Two Dollars ($894,422) across the Planning and Capacity Grants.
Grant Type
- Planning:
- Award Range: $20,000-$50,000
- Duration Options: Six (6) or Twelve (12) month
- Capacity:
- Award Range: $30,000-$150,000
- Duration Options: One (1) or Two (2) year award
Eligibility Criteria
The following entities are eligible to serve as a Lead Applicant with the following conditions:
- Community-based entities (often referred to as community-based organizations) such as community action partnerships, EJ organizations, neighborhood revitalization organizations, advocacy groups, affordable housing providers, affordable housing developers, and non-profits.
- Note: If Applicant is not an entity with the ability to hire staff or receive funds, consider forming a partnership with another group that can act as a fiscal agent.
- Post-secondary educational institutions, K-12 School Districts, Comprehensive and Vocational High Schools, Middle schools, and Vocational Schools offering a Career Technical Initiative evening program.
- For-profit entities such as for-profit training companies, trade associations, unions, or other coalitions of businesses and clean energy businesses.
- Federally Recognized and State-Acknowledged Tribes.
- Workforce Development Organizations, Nonprofit and For-Profit.
- Massachusetts Workforce Investment Boards and Career Centers/Mass Hire Organizations.
For more information, visit MassCEC.
