DOE Announces $8.3 Million for Clean Energy Workforce Training Programs
Eligible Applicants : Non-profit partnerships of public or private industry and labor organizations. Applications are due November 27, 2023
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (this program is currently accepting applications).
Opportunity: Career Skills Training program (CST)
Overview and Eligible Uses: DOE is now accepting applications for the Career Skills Training program (CST). The Career Skills Training Program will provide grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share of Career Skills Training Programs under which students concurrently receive classroom instruction and on-the-job training for the purpose of obtaining an industryrelated certification to install energy efficient building technologies.
This program was established by Section 40513 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The goals of the program are to promote the collaboration between labor organizations and industry to attract, train, and employ workers; enhances existing programs for replication; and creates a diverse, skilled, and credentialed workforce that is positioned to install energy technologies to buildings. Example of the types of activities allowable under this FOA include but are not limited to:
Hiring a full-time program manager
Establishing new partnerships and/or enhancing existing partnerships
Collaborating with industry experts
Conducting outreach and recruitment to attract, train, certify, place, and retain a diverse set of local workers to deliver the influx of new federally funded energy efficiency and renewable technologies programs
Aligning training curriculum to industry standards
Funding instructors & on-the-job trainers
Providing classroom instruction and on-the-job training
Offering personalized career counseling services
Forming partnerships to provide supportive services
Covering the costs to obtain industry-recognized credentials
Placing student in jobs
Fostering effective communications between partners
Prioritizing new collar jobs
Compliantly managing Federal funds and grant implementation
Amount: Of the amount appropriated by the BIL for training programs ($10M), DOE expects to make up to $8.3M available under this FOA. DOE anticipates making approximately 8 awards under this FOA ranging from $200K and $1.081M
Award Type: Cooperative Agreemnt
Eligible Applicants: nonprofit partnerships that—(1) includes the equal participation of industry and labor organizations and (2) may include workforce investment boards, community-based organizations, qualified service and conservation corps, educational institutions, small businesses, cooperatives, State and local veterans’ agencies, and veterans service organizations.
Key Dates: Applications are due November 27, 2023. An informational webinar will be held on October 3, 2023.
*Applicants need to submit a Community Benefits Plan along with their application.
Key Links:
Career Skills Training program webpage
For a full list of currently available grant programs under the Infrastructure Law and other helpful tools, take a look at our Helpful Resources page.
This tracker will continue to send updates when new funding opportunities are announced.