Apprenticeship Colorado at the Office of the Future of Work is now accepting applications for State ScaleUp Grants.
Donor Name: Apprenticeship Colorado at the Office of the Future of Work
State: Colorado
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 05/21/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
ScaleUp Grants are competitive awards that support organizations in developing or expanding a Registered Apprenticeship Program in the state of Colorado. The opportunity funds capacity-building projects for current and future Registered Apprenticeship Program employers and Sponsors. ScaleUp Grants utilize a reimbursement model and no grant funds will be provided up front.
All projects funded under this grant opportunity must involve developing or expanding apprenticeship programs that are registered with the US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship or the State Apprenticeship Agency that include these four elements:
- On-the-job learning (OJL)
- Related instruction (RI)
- Progressive wage increase
- Mentorship.
Registered Apprenticeship Programs include three roles that can be served by one or multiple entities:
- Sponsor – registers, administers, and manages the Registered Apprenticeship Program
- Employer – employs the apprentices and drives the design of the On-the-Job Learning and Related Instruction
- Related Instruction Provider – provides the Related Instruction component.
Funding Information
An awarded grant maximum will be under $50,000.00.
Grant Period
The period of performance shall begin once a Grant Agreement is finalized and end approximately 18 months from that date or by December 31, 2026, whichever comes first.
Uses of Funds
ScaleUp funding must be used to develop, expand and sustain a successful Registered Apprenticeship Program. Allowable costs include capacity-building expenses that directly benefit the applicant to develop or expand a Registered Apprenticeship Program. All grant costs must be clearly tied to activities that directly lead to apprenticeship development or expansion. The most common uses of the funds are staff salary to register the program or mentor apprentices and supplies for the apprentice On-the-Job Learning or Related Instruction. ScaleUp funds can be used for:
- Personnel
- Costs related to design and start-up of Registered Apprenticeship Programs
- Mentor or journeyworker wages
- Classroom education or online training for apprentices
- Train-the-trainer costs or activities
- Training supplies for apprentices
- Curricula development.
Eligibility Criteria
- Entities that are eligible to apply for ScaleUp Funds include employers and sponsors that:
- Plan to develop and register a new Registered Apprenticeship Program or
- Currently offer a Registered Apprenticeship Program and plan to expand it.
- All applicants must be the current or future employer or sponsor. Related Instruction Providers and intermediaries may apply provided that the entity will also serve as either the sponsor or employer.
- In addition to the eligibility requirements above, eligible entities must also demonstrate the following in their application to be considered for funding:
- Ability and intent to employ apprentices within the State of Colorado within the period of performance.
- Ability and intent to hire apprentices as W2 employees.
- Commitment to enroll at least one apprentice within 12 months of the start of the period of performance.
- All expenses included in the budget must be allowable.
- Eligible applicants may apply to either:
- Develop a new Registered Apprenticeship Program(s)
- Expand an existing Registered Apprenticeship Program(s) in one or more of the following ways:
- Adding new occupations
- Adding new employers
- Expanding to new service areas
- Adding additional apprentices.
For more information, visit OFW.
