The Workforce Innovation Grant (WIG) Program promotes innovation to improve outcomes for learners and workers, including underserved populations, by promoting partnerships and helping prepare Coloradans for well-paying, quality jobs.
Donor Name: Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center (JCBWC)
State: Colorado
County: Jefferson County (CO), Clear Creek County (CO), and Gilpin County (CO)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/06/2023
Size of the Grant: $350,000
Grant Duration: 13 months
Details:
Workforce Innovation Grant (WIG) Request for Applications (RFA) is being offered through Jefferson County Business and Workforce Center serving Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Gilpin counties.
Focus Areas
The Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center (JCBWC), serving Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Gilpin counties shall award grants to eligible applicants (a minimum of 90% of their local funding allocation) that will aid unemployed or underemployed workers impacted by Covid-19 to build indemand skills, connect workers and learners to quality jobs, and drive employer engagement in talent development with the following services:
- Job training to accelerate hiring of unemployed workers,
- efforts to accelerate rehiring and reduce unemployment, such as childcare assistance, assistance with transportation to and from a jobsite or interview, and incentives for newly employed workers,
- public job programs, subsidized employment, combined education and on-the-job training programs, or job training to accelerate rehiring or address negative economic or public health impacts experienced due to a worker’s occupation or level of training,
- grants to businesses to hire underserved workers such as increasing adoption of skills-based practices, including incentivizing new skills-based hires;
When deciding whether an applicant and their program/project are appropriate for this funding opportunity, we will use this list to help with evaluating applications to stay within the spirit of Innovation Grants, while also adhering to the requirements of SLFRF funding:
- Increasing participation by underserved communities including, but not limited to, black, indigenous, and people of color, people with disabilities, New Americans, justice-involved, and older workers through the following:
- Adopting focused outreach strategies specific to underserved communities;
- Increasing partnerships with community-based organizations that serve these populations to support existing trusted messengers that can enhance outreach;
- Improving language access, to include American sign language, to ensure outreach and participation.
Supporting small business to mitigate financial hardships resulting from the public health emergency or to provide greater opportunities for communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19 to engage in talent development through individual self-attestation for underemployed, unemployed, and financial harm due to the pandemic, the following:
- Providing services to businesses and employers;
- Supporting initiatives to enhance job quality;
- Increasing adoption of skills-based practices, including incentivizing new skills-based hires;
- Building new internal pathways for existing employees.
- Enhancing access to English language learners and digital literacy that will help our most vulnerable job seekers find stable employment.
- Preference will be given to proposals that address literacy (digital literacy and ESL) this is a significant determining factor in employability. Options that provide solutions to barriers that prevent their return to work (i.e., equitable access to affordable quality childcare, gaps in employment record due to healthcare or caregiver issues, “Returnships” or adult internships that ready adult workers to re-enter the workforce without penalties or loss of wages, etc.)
- Programs that serve or target youth/young adults formerly in foster care or emancipating from foster care.
- Programs that support New Americans, immigrants and undocumented workers obtain the tools and training they need to become independent, self-sufficient employees and employers. Ensure equal access to educational and professional opportunities, equitable housing opportunities, break through language barriers that limit opportunities to excel and expand their career choices.
- Programs that serve people and families experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
Funding Goal
The goal of the Workforce Innovation Grant is to help solve pressing workforce challenges by financially supporting innovative pandemic-recovery plans that will;
- Help build in-demand skills; or
- Connect workers and learners to quality jobs; or
- Drive employer engagement in employee development.
Funding Information
The minimum grant amount is $350,000.
Proposal Timeframe
Projects can be 12 – 13 months beginning as early as October 1, 2023, and should conclude by October 31, 2024. Program closeout and final invoices are due by November 30, 2023.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible entities include:
- Public and Private Sector Employers, Employer Organization, or Trade Associations
- Apprenticeship Sponsors
- Community-Based Organizations
- Colorado Workforce Centers
- Formalized Sector Partnerships recognized by the Colorado Workforce Development Center.
- Eligible applicants may apply in partnership with sub-applicants, including higher education, libraries, K-12 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) or Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), adult education programs, proprietary (private) training providers, economic development corporations, and non-profit organizations. Applicants are encouraged to apply with partners that support transformative strategies focused on alignment with the Colorado Workforce Center ecosystem.
For more information, visit Jefferson County.
