Request for Applications for Neighborhood Jobs Trust Grant (Massachusetts)

The Office of Workforce Development (OWD) invites proposals to place Boston residents in living-wage careers, funded by the Neighborhood Jobs Trust.

Donor Name: Office of Workforce Development (OWD)

State: Massachusetts

City: Boston

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 10/29/2025

Size of the Grant: $50,000 to $500,000

Grant Duration: 1 Year

Details:

The NJT funds services to place low and moderate-income Boston residents in living wage careers. Services can include occupational skills training, Adult Basic Education (including ESOL and programs to support secondary degree attainment). For this RFGA, they also invite proposals to serve young adults, 18-24, with career navigation services.
NJT funds are intended to serve Boston residents seeking full-time (at least 30 hours weekly), permanent employment. The program’s outcome must be a training-related job, or placement into a post-secondary program leading to a full-time position that meets or exceeds the Boston living wage of $18.20 hour with access to benefits (as of July 1, 2024). Educational placements must have evidence of value or recognition in their economic sector, leading to better opportunities for advancement. For certain populations, part-time jobs(at least 20 hours weekly) may be a strategic first step and this waiver will be provided on a case-by-case basis upon OWD’s approval.
Funds in the Trust come from jobs linkage fees. The zoning law of the City of Boston requires that commercial construction projects in excess of 50,000 square feet receive a zoning variance, one condition of which is that the developer of the project is obligated to pay a linkage fee, based on square footage, to the Trust. Developers have two options:

Job Contribution Grant – the developer may simply make the payment to the Trust, to be administered in its entirety by the Trustees in accordance with established regulations and policies.
Jobs Creation Contribution – prior to making a payment to the Trust, the developer may request that linkage funds be used to create a job training program for workers who will be employed, on a permanent basis, at the development project.

Funding Information

$75,000 – $200,000.

Grant Period

Grant Agreements will be for a 12-month period.

Applicant Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants may be 501c3 organizations, those with fiscal sponsors, or institutions of higher education.
Participant Eligibility Criteria:
- Participants funded under this grant opportunity must meet all the eligibility criteria below.
  Unemployed or underemployed, defined as those in temporary, part-time, or unstable positions; those working in jobs without benefits; and those whose income does not suffice to meet the needs of their families (including those earning less than the City of Boston’s Living Wage).
  - Boston resident
  - 18 years or older
  - Must be willing and able to be placed in and retain full-time, unsubsidized employment in a living wage job.
  - Meet the HUD income guidelines as specified in this link to the HUD income guidelines.
  - In addition, at least 25% of NJT funded participants must meet one or more of the following criteria:
Returning citizens and other justice-involved individuals
Homeless, recently homeless, or near-homeless individuals
Housing voucher recipients or public housing residents;
TANF or other public benefits recipients.