Electric Vehicle Career and Technical Education Program – Illinois - fundsforNGOs

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity for a community college that is primarily located and serves Normal, Illinois, that agrees to lead a broad, regional approach to help meet the increasing demand for specialized technicians in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing through the creation of an EV career and technical education (CTE) pilot program.

Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

State: Illinois

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 06/01/2025

Size of the Grant: More than $1 million

Grant Duration: 2 Years

Details:

Investments in clean energy technology and infrastructure, funded through state programs, offer numerous employment and business development opportunities for the residents of Illinois, with a focus on creating equitable opportunities for underserved and marginalized groups. The goal of this program is to support the electric vehicle sector in Normal, Illinois, by strengthening the talent pipeline throughout Central Illinois thanks to customized workforce programs, education and economic development services including, but not limited to:

Developing and implementing EV industry sector strategies that align education and workforce development programs with the needs of EV employers;
Developing and implementing strategies to build career pathways for students to enter EV jobs;
Developing and implementing EV career and technical education pilot programs that will support students and workers that enter EV jobs;
Developing customized training that may not align with traditional college semesters;
Recruiting students into in-demand jobs in the EV industry, allowing students to be prepared for a career leading to steady employment and a livable wage;
Directing outreach opportunities for partnering employers to connect with potential workers, particularly in underrepresented populations including, but not limited to, job fairs and hiring events;
Supporting training costs incurred prior to employment with an EV employer under a customized job training program for Illinois students and workers; and
Supporting the supplemental education costs and on-the-job learning cost for apprenticeships
Developing and offering supportive services to students and workers to help them overcome barriers to engaging and completing training, and retaining employment with EV employers.