Agency: Department of Energy, State and Community Energy Office

Amount: $10 million

NOFO: Career Skills Training Program (FOA)

Focus: Provides direct workforce funding which pays 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 industry-related certification to install energy efficient buildings technologies. Focused on nonprofit-led partnerships between industry and labor organizations to create such programs.

Eligible Entities: Nonprofit partnerships that include labor and industry. Required partners include worker organizations, labor unions, labor-management organizations representing workers, or worker centers that target populations of workers in the energy efficiency and renewable technologies field. At least one (1) representative group or employer partner who is committed to enhancing job quality, recruiting diverse and underserved populations for training and potential hiring, and actively engaging throughout the grant project. An applicant may meet this employer partnership requirement by collaborating with an industry/trade association that represents at least one (1) employer in the service area who are committed to enhancing job quality, recruiting diverse and underserved populations for training and potential hiring, and actively engaging throughout the grant project. It is highly encouraged that the nonprofit partnership includes a robust connection to the workforce development system. 

High Level Process

• Available until expended
• The first round of applications were due February 27, 2024. Future rounds have not yet been announced. 
• Selections expected by 05/20/2024 with negotiation through 07/31/2024. 
• To apply to this FOA, applicants must register with and submit application materials through Infrastructure eXCHANGE at S3 eXCHANGE: Registration (energy.gov), SCEP’s online application portal. This account will allow the user to apply to any open DOE FOAs in Infrastructure eXCHANGE.
• Cost share must be at least 50% of the total project costs for the Career Skills Training Program. The cost share must come from non-federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law. All sources of cost match are considered part of total project costs, and the cost match dollars will be scrutinized under the same Federal regulations as Federal dollars. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Use policy opportunities to prioritize job quality protections for workers in energy efficient roles, and couple this with the training provided through the Career Skills Training program and a corresponding cost share through philanthropic investments. 

Examples

• 2024 announcements have not yet been made. 

Relevant Resources

• Fact Sheet
• FAQ

Agency: Department of Transportation

Amount: $25 million

NOFO: FY24 CMV Operator Safety Training Program

Focus: Training for non-federal government employees who conduct Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) enforcement activities and to develop related training materials. Specifically, this grant will help train non-federal workers to conduct Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) enforcement activities in accordance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Out-of-Service criteria and to develop related training materials to increase awareness and education on CMV safety and otherwise improve CMV safety.

Eligible Entities: CMVOST awards are available to the following entities, who meet the additional eligibility criteria in 1.2 and 1.3 below: 

1. State Government 
2. County Government 
3. City or Township Government 
4. Independent School District 
5. Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education 
6. Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally recognized) 
7. Nonprofit with 501(c)3IRS status (other than small business) 
8. Small business 
9. Hispanic Serving Institution 
10. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) 
11. Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCUUs) 
12. Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions 

• 1.2 Educational Institutions and Training Providers: All applicants must meet one of the two criteria listed below: 

1. Educational institutions accredited by an accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education will be considered for funding 
2. Non-accredited institutions that are approved by the DOL as eligible training providers and who accept WIOA grants; and approved by the SAAs, and the VA to accept VA benefits will also be considered for funding. 

• 1.3 Entry-Level Driver Training Requirements: All applicants must meet the requirements for ELDT and be listed on the Training Provider Registry. Additionally, applicants must submit documentation to support that the entity meets the eligibility requirements. 

High Level Process 

• All CMVOST applications must be filed electronically through Grants.gov (information on how to register with Grants.gov and file an application is available on the Grants.gov website). Applicants will be required to complete: Standard Form (SF) 424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable); Grants.gov Lobbying Form; Key Contacts Form; Project Plan; Budget Narrative; latest Indirect Cost Rate Agreement; and an approved Standard Title VI/Non-Discrimination Program Assurance and Plan.
• Additional application requirements may be indicated in the NOFO announcement, and all required forms must be completed and uploaded in Grants.gov before the closing of the NOFO. It is recommended that all potential applicants review all requirements outlined in the NOFO each year and attend a funding conference. The funding conferences are normally held within two weeks of posting the NOFO.

What Role Can Cities Play

• Work with local training providers to ensure pathways into CMV training are available to diverse populations and explore funding for wrap-around services from WIOA or core city funds to remove potential barriers to entry.

Examples

• Klamath Community College — This award is to provide funding to the Klamath Community College to recruit and enroll qualified students and/or members of underserved communities in the college’s Commercial Driver’s License program. Klamath Community College anticipates enrolling at least 40 students with a tuition cost of $5,185. This institution is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
• Collin Community College District — This award is to provide funding to the Collin Community College to recruit and enroll qualified students and/or members of underserved communities in the college’s Commercial Driver’s License program. Collin Community College anticipates enrolling at least 35 students with a tuition cost of $4,600. This institution is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
• Hawkeye Community College — This award is to provide funding to the Hawkeye Community College to recruit and enroll qualified students and/or members of underserved communities in the college’s Commercial Driver’s License program. Hawkeye Community College anticipates enrolling at least 25 students with a tuition cost of $4,995. This institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Relevant Resources

• Training Resources 
• Overview
• Program Information

Agency: Department of Energy, State and Community Energy Office

Amount: $40 million

NOFO: Energy Audit Training Program (FOA)

Focus: Provides grants to states to train individuals to conduct energy audits or commercial and residential building surveys to build a clean energy workforce with the goal of reducing consumer energy costs and pollution from building energy use.

Eligible Entities: States, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam and if they have a demonstrated need for assistance for training energy auditors.

High Level Process

• Funds are available until expended
• A concept paper was due in March with final submissions due 06/28/2024
• Selection expected 10/10/2024 with award negotiations occurring through end of year.
• To apply to this FOA, applicants must register with, and submit application materials through, Infrastructure eXCHANGE at S3 eXCHANGE: Registration (energy.gov), SCEP’s online application portal. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Collaborate with the workforce board to use WIOA youth career exploration to expose youth to careers in clean energy. Create internships as an entry path into the field. Combine WIOA and Energy Auditor Training funds to serve a larger number of youth and provide in-depth supportive services including stipends, transportation and childcare, where needed. 

Examples: Awards under this grant have not yet been made. 

Relevant Resources

• Infrastructure Exchange – FAQ and other materials

Agency: Department of Energy

Amount: $24 million

NOFO: Industrial Research Assessment Program Application Submission Information

Focus: DOE anticipates entering cooperative agreements with trade schools, community colleges, and union training programs to offer clean energy workforce training, Registered Apprenticeships programs, and pre-apprenticeship and internship opportunities with the goal of supporting small- and medium-sized manufacturers and creating pathways to clean energy credentials and career advancement. The IACs will train students and incumbent workers for high-quality careers in clean energy, energy efficiency, and advanced manufacturing that do not require a four-year degree, and They will also help small and mid sized manufacturers (SMMs) save money, reduce energy waste and improve productivity.

Eligible Entities: Eligibility varies by track. 

• Tracks 1 and 2: Community colleges, community college systems, trade schools, union training programs (including labor-management training programs), and other apprenticeship and internship training programs (with applicant cost share).
• Track 3: Same as Tracks 1 and 2, as well as entities that represent a network or association of IAC-eligible training entities or entities that can otherwise demonstrate an ability to effectively distribute sub-awards to IAC-eligible entities (e.g., an association of community colleges, national unions, workforce and apprenticeship intermediaries, industry associations, etc.).

High Level Process

• Applications are due on May 16, 2024, at 3 p.m. ET.
• Applicants will apply to one of three tracts: 
• One-year initial planning and capacity building awards of up to $200,000 each for institutions to plan how they will establish a future IAC (with the intent to apply for a Track 2 award in 2025); 
• Three-year execution and scale awards of $500,000–$2 million for existing career training programs to become an IAC; and 
• Three-year consortia and cohort awards of $4 million–$7 million for facilitated groups of colleges, state systems, multi-local union projects, apprenticeship intermediaries, and their IAC-eligible partners to establish several IACs at once.
• This solicitation will be managed by DOE’s Partnership Intermediary, ENERGYWERX

What Role Can Cities Play

• Take advantage of funding to focus on creating new IACs at community colleges, trade schools, and union training programs to expand access to energy- and manufacturing-related career pathways while providing hands-on support. Complement it with TANF, SNAF or Refugee Assistance dollars for enrolled participants to cover supportive services to increase the successful completion of programs by diverse populations.
• Encourage local SMBs to leverage IAC resources in order to improve their internal operations and create better jobs.

Examples: See a list and map of existing IACs across the US here. 

Relevant Resources 

• 2024 Announcement
• FAQ

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Amount: $20 million 

NOFO: 2023 Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant Program

Focus: This grant is focused on ensuring a strong pipeline of skilled and diverse workers in the water utilities sector. Focus areas include: targeted internships and apprenticeships, education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students, regional industry and workforce development collaborations for hiring qualified candidates, leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, or cross-training programs that support career advancement, education and training programs designed for decentralized (septic) water workers to support public health for communities that rely on private wells for drinking water or septic systems and training and development for workforce development programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants to benefit disadvantaged communities.

Eligible Entities: Nonprofit professional or service organizations, nonprofit labor organizations, nonprofit community colleges, institutions of higher education, other nonprofit training and educational institutions, or public works departments and agencies. Eligible applicants for Project Area 6 are: 1) community-based nonprofit organizations (CBOs); 2) a partnership of CBOs; or 3) a partnership between a CBO and Federally recognized Indian Tribe, local government or institution of higher education.” For purposes of Project Area 6 applications, CBOs are defined as a state or tribal designated nonprofit organization or an organization exempt from Federal taxes under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code.

High Level Process

• The last round of submissions were due in November of 2023. Additional rounds have not yet been announced for 2024.
• Includes six project areas:
• Project Area 1: Targeted internships apprenticeships for skilled water utility trades.
• Project Area 2: Education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students.
• Project Area 3: Regional industry and workforce development collaborations to hiring qualified candidates.
• Project Area 4: Leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, or cross-training programs that support career advancement.
• Project Area 5: Education and training programs designed for decentralized (septic) water workers to support public health for communities that rely on private wells for drinking water or septic systems.
• Project Area 6: Training and development for workforce development programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants to benefit disadvantaged communities

What Role Can Cities Play

• Invest in the capacity of of diverse nonprofits and community-based organizations in your community so they are positioned to participate in the delivery of services to underserved individuals
• Include the water industry in your workforce planning for the city, in collaboration with the workforce development board, to better understand and anticipate labor needs

Examples

• East Central University (Oklahoma) (pdf) 
• Rowan University (New Jersey) (pdf)
• Wichita State University (Kansas) (pdf)
• Grand Rapids Community College (Michigan) (pdf)
• Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Government (Ohio) (pdf)
• Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust (Washington State) (pdf) 
• Syracuse University (New York) (pdf)
• Rural Community Assistance Partnership (Washington, D.C.) (pdf)
• American Water Works Association (Colorado) (pdf)

Relevant Resources

• Announcement
• FAQ

Agency: Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration

Amount: $62 million

NOFO: FTA prioritizes funding specific technical assistance projects rather than issuing a broad NOFO for general assistance.

Focus: Public Transportation Technical Assistance and Workforce Development, funding to support workforce development and transition, including in relation to zero-emission fleet conversion, and other technical assistance to support transit providers in enhancing safe, efficient, equitable and climate-friendly public transportation. Additionally, the program supports the development of standards for the public transportation industry.

Eligible Entities

• Federal government departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the government; Metropolitan Planning Organizations; state and local governmental entities; providers of public transportation; and national nonprofit organizations that have the appropriate demonstrated capacity to provide public transportation-related technical assistance. 

High Level Process

• Funding is available until 2026.
• The Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program (49 U.S.C. § 5314) and the Public Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. § 5312) fund technical assistance, training, and research resource programs through national nonprofit organizations across a number of areas to improve public transportation.
• Eligible activities for funding under this program include 1) technical assistance, 2) human resources/training, and 3) innovative public transportation frontline workforce development.

What Role Can Cities Play: Tap into available technical assistance from the DOT for building out the transportation workforce to help advance efforts to not only build the transportation workforce of today but anticipate needs in the transportation space for tomorrow’s workforce based on technology innovations. 

Examples: See a list of the current training and technical assistance providers here 

Relevant Resources

• Fact Sheet
• FTA Overview
• Sample FTA Agreements for assistance
• Uniform Guidance for TA and Workforce Development
• Federal Transit Administration National Transit Workforce Development Strategic Plan

also known as State-Based Home Energy Efficiency Contractor Grants

Agency: Department of Energy, State and Community Energy Office

Amount: $150 million formula funding, up to $40 million in competitive funding 

NOFO: Statement of Work

Focus: Allocates funds to state energy offices for developing training programs for workers in the clean energy sector such as home energy efficiency upgrades and electrification. 

Eligible Entities: States

High Level Process

• Primarily formula funding, available annually up through 9/30/31
• Initial Application Deadline: January 31, 2024
• Current Award Timeline: November 1, 2023 – April 30, 2024
• Funding can be used on programs that: 
• Reduce the cost of training contractor employees; 
• Provide access to workforce development tools for contractors including, but not limited to, testing and certification; and 
• Partner with community organizations to develop and implement an equitable state program, Next Milestones.

What Role Can Cities Play: Collaborate directly with state energy offices to identify applicable local training opportunities to which funding can be applied.

Examples: Funds are allocated to state energy offices. A map of states that have received funds is available here along with examples by state of the funds impacts. Funding is being used alongside other DOE investments such as weatherization in many locations. 

Relevant Resources 

• Workforce Training Curricula and Steps to Recognition
• Instructions for Uploading and Downloading Attachments in PAGE
• TREC Submission Narrative Document Template
• FAQ
• Fact Sheet
• Guide for Incorporating Energy Efficiency into State Plans

Agency: Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration

Amount: Up to $4,226,871 

NOFO: 2024 Highway Construction Training Program

Focus: Provides resources to develop, test, and review new curricula and education programs to train individuals at all levels of the transportation workforce; or to implement the new curricula and education programs to provide for hands-on career opportunities to meet current and future needs.

Eligible Entities: Educational institutions or State departments of transportation. The program emphasizes collaboration between educational institutions and the transportation industry. Proposals are often submitted by teams that include both educational entities and industry partners.

High Level Process

• Funds are available until expended
• Submissions are due June 17, 2024.
• The Federal share of the cost of a project is 80%; 20% of funding must come from other sources

The secretary can consider the following in making award decisions:

• the degree to which the new curricula or education program meets the specific current or future needs of a segment of the transportation industry, States, or regions;
• providing for practical experience and on-the-job training;
• proposals oriented toward practitioners in the field rather than the support and growth of the research community;
• the degree to which the new curricula or program will provide training in areas other than engineering, such as business administration, economics, information technology, environmental science, and law;
• programs or curricula that train professionals for work in the transportation field, such as construction, materials, information technology, environmental science, urban planning, and industrial or emerging technology; and
• the commitment of industry or a State’s department of transportation to the program. [§ 13007; 23 U.S.C. 504(f)(2)]

What Role Can Cities Play: Work with local educators who receive such funding to expand training programs into new populations by creating specific onramps for justice involved, immigrant communities, and opportunity youth. 

Examples: Awards have not been issued for this program. 

Relevant Resources

• Overview
• Center for Transportation Workforce Development
• Training Resources

Agency: Department of Transportation

Amount: $400 million–$500 million from 2022 to 2026

NOFO: Past NOFOs (current selection process is closed)

Focus: Provides funding to advance transportation research and technology and train transportation professionals.

Eligible Entities: Universities

High Level Process

• Grants award funds to consortia of colleges and universities across the United States. The UTC Program advances the state-of-the-art in transportation research and technology, and develops the next generation of transportation professionals. Each UTC is a consortium of two- and four-year colleges and universities that come together to form a unique center of transportation excellence on a specific research topic. Together, they advance U.S. technology and expertise in the many disciplines comprising transportation through education, solutions-oriented research and technology transfer, and the exploration and sharing of cutting-edge ideas and approaches.
• ​​Program grants that were awarded in 2023 are authorized to receive funding through Federal Fiscal Year 2026 without additional competition.

What Role Can Cities Play

• Create partnerships with members of the UTCs in their area to support leading-edge transportation apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships and other on-the-job learning experiences.
• Collaborate with UTCs on supportive services needs of their students to better understand where cities can address the gaps. 

Examples: See a map of all UTCs. Click on one of the icons to view a pop-up with the lead university and the corresponding focus areas for the UTC.

Relevant Resources

• Overview
• BIL Grantees
• Ongoing UTC Research

Agency: Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

Amount: $42.45 billion

NOFO: 2022 BEAD Program

Focus: Provides funding to expand broadband infrastructure and access, particularly in underserved areas. Eligible entities will receive initial funds to support broadband planning and related capacity efforts, from mapping and staffing state/territory broadband offices to outreach and coordination with local communities.

Eligible Entities: Any State of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are considered “Eligible Entities” under the BEAD program and may apply for funding. Funding will then be sub-granted for implementation. 

High Level Process

• 2024 grants were primarily focused on planning. Additional release of funding in 2025 through competitive processes. 
• Prior rounds worked as follows:
• Letters of Intent were submitted followed by a request to NTIA for initial planning funds and accompanying 5-year action plan. Eligible entities are notified of available funding and develop their initial proposal for the competitive process they will run to identify subgrantees. 
• Eligible entity conducts challenge process in which a unit of local government, nonprofit organization, or broadband service provider can challenge a determination made by the Eligible Entity in the Initial Proposal as to whether a particular location or CAI is eligible for grant funds, including whether the location is unserved or underserved. 
• NTIA reviews, approves initial approval and notifies eligible entities of funding and issues 20%. Eligible entity initiates competitive subgrantee identification process. 
• Once subgrantees are identified, a final proposal is submitted to NTIA and remaining funding is released. 

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information: (See relevant excerpts from the NOFO below)

• Guidance: Instructs states deciding among competing broadband projects to evaluate potential subgrantees based on their past record of compliance with labor standards and plans for future compliance. This includes a) Federal labor and employment laws, which are legal requirements that apply to all employers in the United States; b) Skilled workforce activities, which include how employers hire, pay, and consider skills of workers and subcontractors; c) Equitable training and workforce development activities, which offer on-the-job and professional skills development for all workers; and d) Contracting requirements and guidance concerning direct employment and contracting, as well as partnering with minority-owned businesses and other socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. 
• Eligibility: Workforce development is an eligible use of funding per section Sections IV.B.7.a.(ii) and (iii). Eligible Entities must build and develop a highly skilled workforce and ensure that subgrantees do the same. Each subgrantee must certify that it will use an appropriately skilled and credentialed workforce that is technically qualified to complete all funded activities in a competent manner. Eligible uses of funding in connection with last-mile broadband deployment projects include training for cybersecurity professionals who will be working on BEAD-funded networks and workforce development, including Registered Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, and community college and/or vocational training for broadband-related occupations to support deployment, maintenance, and upgrades. NTIA encourages Eligible Entities to consider workforce development goals when selecting subgrantees, setting standards and requirements for subgrantees, and establishing submission scoring factors (Section IV.C.1.f). Eligible entities are also encouraged to adopt selection criteria for subgrantees related to advancing equitable workforce development and job quality objectives, such as ensuring subgrantees require Registered Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, joint labor management partnerships, and other high-quality on-the-job training opportunities. 
• Evaluation: Includes evaluation criteria for Advancing Equitable Workforce Development and Job Quality; this means proposals that clearly outline plans for training, apprenticeships, and supporting a diverse workforce are more likely to be funded. 
• Partnership: States and eligible entities are encouraged to partner with workforce development organizations, community colleges, and other training providers to develop and implement programs aligned with the specific needs of their project.

What Role Can Cities Play

• Participate in a challenge process to validate that determination of whether a particular location or CAI is eligible for grant funds, including whether the location is unserved or underserved, as articulated in the State’s initial proposal, makes sense.
• Incorporate careers in broadband infrastructure construction and maintenance, as well as cyber security, into their priority occupations and related workforce plan. At the same time, examine occupational segregation which may be present in existing occupations to target skill development and recruiting to fill gaps.
• Develop or expand apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, in collaboration with the community college system and local employer base, for these occupations. If not already, obtain approval for apprenticeships from the Department of Labor’s Department of Apprenticeship Standards or the state.
• Foster early workforce partnerships between K–12 and workforce development to infuse knowledge of broadband careers into the school curriculum and increase focus on STEM-related competencies.
• Implement city-wide living wage and scheduling standards to increase the quality of future broadband jobs created in your community and provide enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance.

Examples

• Columbus, Ohio: The Ohio State University received funding to design curriculum for Ohio’s Broadband and 5G Sector Partnership in an effort to develop a skilled broadband workforce. The curriculum will be available to all higher education institutions in Ohio to implement. This announcement is part of a larger effort by OWT and BroadbandOhio to grow the workforce needed to expand broadband access and 5G in Ohio.
• Detroit, Michigan: The Michigan High-Speed Internet (MIHI) Office is the administering entity for BEAD in Michigan and is committed to engaging the existing broadband workforce in Michigan, as well as empowering the growth of the workforce to meet the needs of the BEAD Program. 
• Louisiana: Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) in Louisiana offers the FBA Optical Telecom Installer Certification Path (OpTIC Path™) program. This program has been designed to develop the technical workforce needed to support the significant increase in fiber network builds as a result of the BEAD and other federal and state funding opportunities. 
• Illinois: The State developed its Connect Illinois Five-Year Action Plan for broadband access and deployment. The Illinois Office of Broadband plans to increase workforce development programming, resources for digital inclusion, and community partnerships to build trusted relationships with the state’s neediest communities, while providing resources to promote full participation in the digital economy. 

Relevant Resources

• BroadbandUSA program website
• Internet for All Workforce Planning guide
• State Initial Proposal Progress Dashboard

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Amount:$1.5 billion; Estimated 60 Community-wide Assessment Grants for an estimated total of $30 million

NOFO: FY24 Guidelines for Brownfield Assessment Grants (RFA)

Focus: Successful brownfields reuse and redevelopment which includes navigating local community priorities, market conditions, infrastructure availability, environmental contamination, public health issues, and local ordinances shape brownfield site reuse opportunities. 

Eligible Entities: The following information indicates which entities are eligible to apply for a Community-wide Assessment Grant.

• Local government including county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority (including any public and Indian housing agency under the United States Housing Act of 1937), school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments (whether or not incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under state law), any other regional or interstate government entity, or any agency or instrumentality of a local government. 
• Land Clearance Authority or another quasi-governmental entity that operates under the supervision and control of, or as an agent of, a General Purpose Unit of Local Government. 
• Government Entity Created by State Legislature. 
• Regional Council established under governmental authority or group of General Purpose Units of Local Government established under Federal, state or local law (e.g., councils of governments) to function as a single legal entity with authority to enter into binding agreements with the Federal Government. 
• Redevelopment Agency that is chartered or otherwise sanctioned by a state. 
• State. 
• Federally recognized Indian Tribe other than in Alaska. (The exclusion of Tribes from Alaska, with the exception of the Metlakatla Indian Community as noted below, from Brownfields Grant eligibility is statutory at CERCLA § 104(k)(1)). Intertribal Consortia, comprised of eligible Indian Tribes, are eligible for funding in accordance with EPA’s policy for funding intertribal consortia published in the Federal Register on November 4, 2002, at 67 Fed. Reg. 67181. This policy also may be obtained from your Regional Brownfields Contact listed in Section VII.) 
• Alaska Native Regional Corporation, Alaska Native Village Corporation, and Metlakatla Indian Community. (Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Alaska Native Village Corporations are defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 and following). For more information, please refer to the FY24 FAQs.) 
• Nonprofit organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 
• Limited liability corporations in which all managing members are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or limited liability corporations whose sole members are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Limited partnership in which all general partners are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or limited corporations whose sole members are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Qualified community development entity as defined in section 45D(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 

High Level Process

• Eligible entities submit an application package to EPA. Project(s) should support EPA’s FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. 
• Annual process. Last round of applications were due November 13, 2023,11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
• EPA will notify successful applicants via email that its application is selected and is being recommended for award; this is not an authorization to begin work. 
• The successful applicant may need to prepare and submit additional documents and forms (e.g., a work plan), which must be approved by EPA before the grant can officially be awarded. The time between notification of selection and award of a grant can take up to 90 days or longer.
• Funding will be awarded as a cooperative agreement. The applicants who are selected for the award will work with an EPA Project Officer to finalize the required federal application package and to negotiate the cooperative agreement work plan

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

• Grant Priorities and Policy Priorities: “It is a priority of the EPA to invest in projects that support high-quality jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union, have strong labor standards, and promote equitable pathways into these good jobs, consistent with Executive Order 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment and Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. As such, recipients may consider strategies that align with the U.S. Department of Labor and Department of Commerce’s eight Good Jobs Principles to the greatest extent possible, including compliance with prevailing wage requirements. Examples include but are not limited to protections for the free and fair choice to join a union; workers covered under a collective bargaining agreement; partnerships with labor organizations; partnerships with the public workforce system and/or community-based organizations to support the recruitment and retention of individuals from underserved communities; utilization of high-quality training models, including high-road training partnerships as defined by DOL; registered apprenticeship utilization requirements and/or partnerships with pre-apprenticeship programs; ensuring workers are properly classified, given predictable and stable work schedules, and providing family-sustaining benefits, including fringe benefits and a retirement contribution; creating safe and healthy working conditions, including involving worker voice in the development of safety plans and adherence to all OSHA requirements; providing supportive services for workers that face barriers to employment and retention, such as childcare, transportation, mentorship, and other supports; and other strategies that promote equal opportunity and job quality for workers on Brownfield-funded projects.” 

What Role Can Cities Play: Even where no environmental job training programs or EPA-funded Job Training Programs currently exist, cities have the ability to foster local hiring and stimulate their local economies working through partnership with their local Workforce Development Board or One-Stop Center to identify ways to hire locally. By promoting local hiring, Assessment and Cleanup Grant recipients help ensure the economic benefits derived from brownfields revitalization benefit local residents — those who the program was intended to help.

Examples

• Texarkana, TX: Plans to train 59 students and place at least 56 in environmental jobs. The training program includes two tracts: Tract 1 – Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) and Tract 2 – Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) Machinist. Tract 1 includes 232 hours of instruction and Tract 2 includes 227 hours of instruction. Both Tracts include 40-Hour HAZWOPER, HAZMAT, First Aid/CPR/Bloodborne Pathogens, and Forklift Operator. Tract 1 also includes OSHA 10 and Class A CDL – Endorsement. Tracts 2 also includes OSHA 30 and CNC Machinist. Students who complete the training will earn up to four federal certifications. The City of Texarkana is targeting students within disadvantaged communities. 
• Detroit, MI: 2,600 jobs created with workforce development focus. The Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Board approved The Future of Health (FOH) Act 381 Combined Transformation Brownfield Plan (TBP). The development is anticipated to support approximately 2,145 direct, on-site construction jobs with total wages expected to exceed $133 million throughout the construction period (an annual average wage of $61,921 per year), for a total economic output of $474 million, and approximately 735 post-construction direct full time equivalent (FTE) jobs with an average annual income of $111,684 per job in today’s dollars, with a total anticipated labor income of $4.2 billion and a total economic output of $5.3 billion over 35 years. The development is anticipating compliance with Executive Order 2021–22, with the goal of providing 51% of jobs to a Detroit-based workforce. Additionally, as a part of the Community Benefits Agreement, the developer will make reasonable efforts to spend 30% of the total development costs of the project with Detroit-based businesses. The developers have a target to spend at least $100 million on goods and services from disadvantaged businesses and women-owned businesses.
• Seattle, WA: Duwamish Riverfront revitalization included training opportunities. In 2021, the Duwamish River Opportunity Fund Awards provided $40,000 to Utility Squared Community in support of the Municipal Utility Services & Infrastructure Quick-Curriculum, a project that aimed at building the next-generation infrastructure workforce and accelerating job readiness through sparking youth curiosity and cultivating knowledge of Municipal Utility Services & Infrastructure.
• Examples of other funded projects in 2021.

Relevant Resources

• Brownfield program website 
• FAQ

Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Amount: Up to $1 billion FY 2023

NOFO: FY23 BRIC Grant Program

Focus: The BRIC program priorities are to: 

• Incentivize natural hazard risk reduction activities that mitigate risk to public infrastructure 
• Incorporate nature-based solutions including those designed to reduce carbon emissions 
• Enhance climate resilience and adaptation 
• Promote equity and prioritize disadvantaged communities as referenced in Executive Order (EO) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.
• Increase funding to applicants that facilitate the adoption and enforcement of the latest published editions of building codes
• Increase climate literacy among the emergency management community, including awareness of natural hazard risks and knowledge of best practices for mitigation.
• Increase awareness of stakeholders and partners with capabilities to support mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
• Develop and complete more innovative risk-informed mitigation projects, including multi-hazard resilience or nature-based solutions.
• Identify and mitigate the risks to natural hazards and their own threats from climate change.
• Direct increased resources to eliminate disparities in equitable outcomes across underserved communities

Eligible Entities

• District of Columbia
• States
• U.S. territories
• Federally recognized tribal governments

High Level Process 

• For the 2023 cycle, eligible entities had to submit an application by February 29, 2024 by 3 p.m. ET to FEMA. The 2024 cycle has not yet been announced.
• Eligible entities are awarded funding. Funding will be awarded as a grant.
• Available funding & funding allocations:

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No, but up to $2 million per state can be used for workforce development

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

• Eligibility: 

FEMA will provide financial assistance to eligible BRIC applicants for the following activities:

Capability and Capacity-Building activities – activities that enhance the knowledge, skills and expertise of the current workforce to expand or improve the administration of mitigation assistance. This includes activities in the following sub-categories: building codes, partnerships, project scoping, hazard mitigation planning and planning-related activities, and other activities.

• Equity Data Measures Inclusive of Workforce: Agencies will shift to using the CEJST as the methodology for geographically identifying disadvantaged communities, consistent with Presidential Memo M-23-09 – Addendum to the Interim Implementation Guidance for the Justice40 Initiative. The Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) is a geospatial mapping tool that identifies areas across the nation where communities face significant burdens. These burdens are organized into eight categories: climate change, energy, health, housing, legacy pollution, transportation, water and wastewater, and workforce development.
• Fact Sheet: The maximum allocation for a state or territory under this category is $2 million, and the maximum total allocation for tribal under this category is $25 million to carry out eligible building code adoption and enforcement activities such as: Evaluate adoption and or implementation of codes that reduce risk; enhance existing, adopted codes to incorporate more current requirements or higher standards; develop professional workforce capabilities related to building codes through technical assistance and training.

What Role Can Cities Play

• Cities can use funding to train the current workforce on adopting and enforcing building codes such as certifications. 
• Make Building Codes Matter More With Training, Education, & Enforcement. Adopted building codes are only helpful if they are enforced and inform development decision-making. Investment in building codes also means investments in training, education, and enforcement.

Examples

• Tulsa, OK: Tulsa will use BRIC funding to improve the stormwater drainage in the Fulton Creek basin, reduce risk of flooding and extreme heat for more than 100 commercial and residential structures. Work is beginning on Phase I of the project – engineering design and benefit/cost analysis. Phase II will consist of construction of the improvement plan and will result in the expansion of local infrastructure job opportunities.

Relevant Resources 

• Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities | FEMA.gov 
• 2022 Awards
• 2023 Fact Sheet
• Direct Technical Assistance

NOFO 

• Notice of Funding Opportunity

Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Amount: Up to $700 million

NOFO: FY22-23 CFI Discretionary Grant Program

Focus: Community Charging and Fueling Program Grants (Community Program), to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, propane fueling infrastructure, and natural gas fueling infrastructure located on public roads or in other publicly accessible locations; and Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants (Corridor Program), to strategically deploy charging and alternative fueling infrastructure located along designated alternative fuel corridors. Priority is given to rural areas, low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, and communities with low rates of private parking. The CFI Program consists of two tracks: Community Charging and Corridor Charging. The Community Charging grants prioritize charging infrastructure in underserved and lower income communities while the Corridor Charging grants are available to deploy infrastructure along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs).

Eligible Entities

• States or political subdivision of states
• Metropolitan planning organizations
• Unit of local governments
• Special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function, including port authorities
• Indian Tribes
• U.S. territories
• Authorities, agencies, or entities owned by, one or more entities listed above
• Group of entities listed above
• State or local authorities with ownership of publicly accessible transportation facilities

High Level Process 

• For the 2023 round of funding, eligible entities submitted applications by 11:59 PM EST on May 30, 2023 to DOT. Timelines for future rounds will be published as available. 
• Eligible entities are encouraged to review the Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making to support their application. 
• Eligible entities are notified of the award. Funding will be awarded as a cost reimbursement grant.

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

• Priorities: Workforce Development, Job Quality, and Wealth Creation: The Department intends to use the CFI Program to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and training and placement programs, especially registered apprenticeships, in project planning stages, consistent with EO 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and EO 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). The Department also intends to use the CFI Program to support wealth creation, consistent with the DOT’s Equity Action Plan through the inclusion of local inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship such as the utilization of disadvantaged business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or 8(a) firms. 
• Goals: Also, as part of the FHWA implementation of Executive Order (EO) 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (86 FR 7619), FHWA seeks to fund projects that help achieve the goal that at least 40 percent of benefits flow toward low-income communities, disadvantaged communities, communities underserved by affordable transportation, or overburdened communities. In addition, FHWA intends to use this funding opportunity to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and diverse workforce programs, in particular registered apprenticeships, labor management partnerships and Local Hire agreements, in project planning stages and program delivery. 
• Eligibility: Applicants must address how their project will create good-paying jobs with free and fair choice to join a union, including, but not limited to the use of project labor agreements, promote investments in high-quality workforce development programs with supportive services to help train, place, and retain people in good-paying jobs or registered apprenticeship, with a focus on women, people of color, and others underrepresented in infrastructure jobs (people with disabilities, people with convictions, etc.); and change hiring policies and workplace cultures to promote the entry and retention of underrepresented populations. Applicants should address how the project promotes local inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship, including prioritizing the utilization of disadvantaged business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or 8(a) firms. 
• Compliance with 23 CFR Part 680: Recipients of an award under this program are also required to comply fully with applicable sections of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Standards and Requirements (23 CFR Part 680), which has certain requirements for EV charging infrastructure, including installation, operation, and maintenance requirements, interoperability and connectivity standards, minimum uptime requirements, data submission requirements, as well as certain data fields that must be made available, free of charge, to third-party software developers, via application programming interface. This regulation also has certain 64 EV Charging Minimum Standards Rule as Submitted to Federal Register for Publication (Unofficial) (dot.gov)  requirements for the workforce installing, maintaining, and operating EV chargers has appropriate licenses, certifications, and training to ensure that the installation and maintenance of EV chargers is performed safely by a qualified and increasingly diverse workforce of licensed technicians and other laborers. Installation, maintenance and operations of infrastructure for other fuel types is encouraged to follow a similar approach and utilize a skilled workforce with appropriate licenses, certifications, and training. 

What Role Can Cities Play 

• Collaborate with local labor unions to develop relevant curriculum and secure job placement opportunities for apprentices in charging and infrastructure.
• Work with traditional automotive employers to transition incumbent workers through training programs focused on upgrading the skills of mechanics and technicians to service and repair EVs. 
• Develop outreach programs to educate K–12 students, particularly in underserved communities, about career paths available in the EV and clean energy industries to spark interest and encourage future generations to enter the workforce in these fields.

Examples

• Mount Vernon, WA: Mount Vernon Library Commons project fulfills local, state, and federal transportation goals by building the largest publicly accessible EV charging facility in the United States to address inequities of access for the community and produce EV jobs and job pathways.
• California: California Energy Commission awarded nine cities and organizations nearly $1.8 million through its Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program to develop strategic plans outlining an approach to expand electric vehicle charging access. The state’s program has spurred major advances in manufacturing and job creation and is spurring training programs through Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator and Charger Help which are collaborating with the city.

Relevant Resources

• Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program | US Department of Transportation 
• Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI)

Agency: Department of Energy, State and Community Energy Office

Amount: $932 million

NOFO: 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Grants (RFA)

Focus: Program provides funding to offset the costs of replacing heavy-duty Class 6 and 7 commercial vehicles with zero-emission vehicles; deploying infrastructure needed to charge, fuel, or maintain these zero-emission vehicles; and developing and training the necessary workforce. Covers up to 100 percent of costs for (1) incremental cost of replacing an existing heavy-duty vehicle with a zero-emission vehicle; (2) purchasing and operating associated infrastructure; (3) workforce development and training; (4) planning and technical activities.

Eligible Entities

• 1) States, 2) Municipalities (including school districts), 3) Indian Tribes, and 4) Nonprofit school transportation associations. 
• While unable to apply directly, contractors may participate in the bidding process after grants are awarded. Two sub-programs are available to applicants based on which type(s) of vehicle(s) they are replacing. Applicants may submit one application per sub-program. 

High Level Process

• NOFO is open until Thursday, July 25, 2024. Selection anticipated in Nov 2024 with awards in early 2025.
• Cost share process where DOE will cost share percentage of the new vehicle, up to the per-vehicle funding cap. The cost share percentage and per-vehicle funding cap vary based on the vehicle and fuel type of the replacement vehicle. Funding caps include combined vehicle and infrastructure funds to allow recipients additional purchasing flexibility. Recipients have flexibility to determine the split between funding for the vehicle itself and the supporting infrastructure. 

Dedicated Workforce Funding: Yes

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

• Background: Further priority for funding will be given to projects that include climate resilience, project sustainability, and workforce development activities. 
• Priorities: To encourage the sustainable deployment of ZE vehicles and infrastructure, the EPA will also prioritize funding for projects which address climate resilience, project sustainability, and workforce development. Accordingly, applications will be evaluated based on the extent and quality to which the applicant demonstrates how the project assesses and implements adaptation considerations to help ensure that the project achieves its expected outcomes even as the climate changes.  Applications will also be evaluated based on the extent to which the applicant demonstrates: 1) a plan to prepare the workforce for the project, 2) policies and protections to prevent existing workers from being replaced or displaced because of the new vehicles and infrastructure, and 3) activities to incorporate worker voice into the project. See Sections IV.C. and V.A. for additional details on evaluation criteria. 

Expected outputs from this include development of a workforce plan.  Expected outcomes include workforce training programs established for ZE vehicles and infrastructure and Increased availability of domestic manufacturing and workforce capacity to support the production, operation, and maintenance of ZE vehicles, engines, and other key components (e.g., batteries). 

• Eligible activities include a) replacement of eligible existing internal combustion engine (ICE) Class 6 and Class 7 vehicles with eligible zero-emission vehicles; b) purchasing, installing, operating, and maintaining infrastructure needed to charge, fuel, or maintain the new zero-emission vehicles; and c) workforce development and training to support the maintenance, charging, fueling, and operation of zero-emission vehicles. 
• Eligible costs include Workforce Training and Warranty Costs: Eligible project costs include driver/mechanic training related to the maintenance and operation of new technologies, and vehicle warranties. Eligible costs also include training to certify licensed electricians to install EVSE, such as certification through the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP). All of these project costs must be clearly identified with line-item expenses included in Section 10 of the submitted application. 
• Evaluation:  Section 8 – Job Quality and Workforce Development (10 possible points from Section V.A. of the NOFO) Section 132 of the CAA will generate jobs related to the operation, installation, and maintenance of human-operated vehicles and infrastructure. To ensure these workers can effectively carry out the activities in the statute, and in alignment with Executive Order 14082: Implementation of the Energy and Infrastructure Provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the EPA is committed to supporting the creation of high-quality, family-sustaining jobs, as applicable to fulfill the goals of the statute.  Applicants are encouraged to review the eight Good Jobs Principles and Good Jobs Toolkit developed by the U.S. Department of Labor and Department of Commerce when developing their application. Accordingly, the EPA will evaluate applicants and/or their project partners (i.e., contractors and sub-awardees) on their plan to successfully deploy ZE vehicles by assessing the project’s impact on the existing workforce and creating a plan for developing the necessary skilled workforce that considers the training needs of workers, emphasizes student and worker safety, and incorporates worker voice into transition planning. This includes the workers responsible for driving, maintaining, and repairing the buses, in addition to supporting personnel like bus monitors or local first responders. If an applicant does not yet know all of their project partners (e.g., private bus fleets, infrastructure installers, etc.), they may include information about how the following components will be addressed in their bidding process and contractual agreements.
• Collaboration: Applicants may attach any letters of commitment from applicable labor and workforce development organizations they plan to collaborate with as optional attachments (does not contribute to the work plan 15-page limit).
• Other: To promote transparency in the clean school bus industry, the EPA surveyed manufacturers about their job quality and workforce development practices and published the responses on the Clean School Bus website under “Bus Manufacturer Job Quality and Workforce Development Practices.” Applicants are encouraged to refer to the webpage when selecting buses to purchase.

What Role Can Cities Play: Work with the K–12 system to establish pre-apprenticeship and other exposure pathways to provide students exposure to the priority transportation fields of repair, maintenance and operation funded through this grant. 

Examples: Funding has not yet been awarded for this work. 

Relevant Resources 

• Flyer
• FAQ

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Amount: $163 billion 

NOFO: CWSRF Contacts for Application Information (by state)

Focus: The 51 CWSRF programs function like environmental infrastructure banks by providing low-interest loans to eligible recipients for water infrastructure projects. As money is paid back into the state’s revolving loan fund, the state makes new loans to other recipients for high priority, water quality activities. 

Eligible Entities: Eligible recipients vary by project type and include municipalities, utilities, state agencies, community groups, farmers, homeowners, small businesses, conservation districts, and nonprofit organizations. To be eligible for CWSRF assistance, a project must meet the criteria of one of the eleven CWSRF eligibilities under Section 603(c), Section 603(c)(1): section 212; Section 603(c)(2): section319; Section 603(c)(3): Section 320; and Section 603(c)(7): Section 122 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). 

High Level Process

• Eligible entities submit directly to their state agencies. Contact the CWSRF program in your state for information on how to apply. 
• For example, in California the process is outlined in the Forms and Instructions website and the Application Process Flowchart.

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Loan program, indirectly supported through funded projects. 

Workforce Development Information: Not explicitly addressed. Using a combination of federal and state funds, state CWSRF programs provide loans to eligible recipients to:

• Construct municipal wastewater facilities
• Control nonpoint sources of pollution
• Build decentralized wastewater treatment systems
• Create green infrastructure projects
• Protect estuaries
• Fund other water quality projects

What Role Can Cities Play

• Establish hiring guidelines for CWSRF projects that prioritize qualified workers from the local community and incentivize the use of apprentices to create strong pathways for underserved communities.
• Direct K–12 school systems to establish pre-apprenticeship programs for environmental infrastructure to provide not only exposure but also skill building and increase their connection to green careers.
• Include funding for community colleges, vocational schools, or other training providers to develop specialized curricula for the construction or maintenance of the clean water infrastructure projects as part of the implementation of CWSRF funds.

Examples 

• West Monroe, LA: Used CWSRF funding to upgrade an existing wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). As a result of this water efficiency project, the facility now treats wastewater to drinking water standards using dissolved air floatation followed by pressurized granular activated carbon and chlorination. The treated effluent from the city’s WWTP is pumped to Graphic Packaging International, Inc. (GPI) to meet the company’s demand for processed water in its food-grade paper manufacturing process. In addition to the environmental benefits of this partnership, it has ensured the stability of the community’s largest employer. GPI employs 1,200 people in West Monroe, with an additional 637 direct workers associated with harvesting timber and pulpwood and transporting it to GPI. 
• Minnesota has used the funding for the AgBMP Loan Program. It is a water quality program that provides low-interest loans to farmers, rural landowners, and agriculture supply businesses. The purpose is to encourage agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) that prevent or reduce runoff from feedlots, farm fields, and other pollution problems identified by the county in local water plans. The workforce focus of this effort is around supporting agriculture businesses. 

Relevant Resources

• Overview of Clean Water State Revolving Fund Eligibilities
• Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) | US EPA
• Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Fact Sheets

Surface Transportation Core Funds

Agency: Department of Transportation, FAST Act

Amount: $2.587 billion for 2023

NOFO: 2024 Congestion Relief Program

Focus: Continues the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) to provide a flexible funding source to state and local governments for transportation projects and programs to help meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act. Funding is available to reduce congestion and improve air quality for areas that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone, carbon monoxide, or particulate matter (nonattainment areas) and for former nonattainment areas that are now in compliance (maintenance areas). Many types of projects are eligible under the CMAQ program including electric vehicles and charging stations, diesel engine replacements and retrofits, transit improvements, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, shared micro mobility projects including shared scooter systems, and more. In addition to improving air quality and reducing congestion, CMAQ projects can improve equitable access to transportation services, improve safety, and promote application of new and emerging technologies.

Eligible Entities: The BIL continues all prior CMAQ eligibilities, and adds four new eligibilities:

• Shared micro mobility, including bike sharing and shared scooter systems; [§ 11115(1); 23 U.S.C. 149(b)(7)] 
• The purchase of diesel replacements, or medium-duty or heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles and related charging equipment; [§ 11115(1); 23 U.S.C. 149(b)(8)] 
• Modernization or rehabilitation of a lock and dam, or a marine highway corridor, connector, or crossing if functionally connected to the federal-aid highway system and likely to contribute to attainment or maintenance of national ambient air quality standards (capped at 10% of CMAQ apportionment); and [§ 11115(1) and (2); 23 U.S.C. 149(b)(10), (b)(11), and (c)(4)] 
• In alternative fuel projects, vehicle refueling infrastructure that would reduce emissions from nonroad vehicles and nonroad engines used in construction projects or port-related freight operations. [§ 11115(3); 23 U.S.C. 149(f)(4)(A)] 

High Level Process

• The grant is authorized under Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). 
• As under the FAST Act, the BIL directs FHWA to apportion funding as a lump sum for each state, then divide that total among apportioned programs. Funding will be awarded over 5 years, fiscal year 2022 through 2026. Each state administers the distribution of funding to local projects. 
• A state may transfer up to 50% of CMAQ funds made available each fiscal year to any other apportionment of the state, including the National Highway Performance Program, Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, Highway Safety Improvement Program, National Highway Freight Program, [NEW] Carbon Reduction Program, and [NEW] Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Formula Program. 
• Section 504(e) of title 23, U.S.C., authorizes State Departments of Transportation (State DOTs) to use certain Federal-aid highway program funds for surface transportation workforce development, training, and education activities. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (Public Law 117-58), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), made amendments to Section 504(e) that highlight eligible activities that include pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and career opportunities for on-the-job training. Activities associated with workforce training and employment services, partnerships with industry, economic development organizations, workforce development boards, and labor organizations are also now eligible. BIL also expanded the definition of “surface transportation workforce development, training, and education” to include activities for women and minorities; activities to address current workforce gaps, such as work on construction projects of state and local transportation agencies; activities to develop a robust surface transportation workforce with new skills resulting from emerging transportation.

Dedicated Workforce Funding: Yes for specific programs

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information: See info on specific programs and relevant excerpts from the NOFO below. Note that the primary goal of using CMAQ funds for workforce development should be to improve air quality or reduce congestion.

• Goals: Workforce Development, Job Quality, and Wealth Creation — DOT intends to use the program to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and training and placement programs, especially registered apprenticeships, in project planning stages, consistent with E.O. 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and E.O. 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). DOT also intends to use the Program to support wealth creation, consistent with the Department’s Equity Action Plan through the inclusion of local inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship such as the utilization of disadvantaged business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or 8(a) firms. 
• Guidance: Funding is flexible if projects support one of the following four goals: a) increasing women and minority participation; b) addressing workforce gaps; c) building skills supporting emerging transportation technologies; and d) attracting new sources of job-creating investment. The statute calls out the following specific options for how the funding can be used, among other activities: tuition and other financial support to universities, community colleges, and vocational schools; apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and on-the-job training; activities associated with industry stakeholders, workforce development boards, labor organizations, and economic development organization; student internships; outreach campaigns to develop interest in transportation careers and employment programs.

A state may obligate funds apportioned to the state for the National Highway Performance Program, the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, Highway Safety Improvement Program, and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program for:

Pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and career opportunities for on-the-job training;

University, college, community college, or vocational school support;

Activities associated with workforce training and employment services, such as targeted outreach and partnerships with industry, economic development organizations, workforce development boards, and labor organizations;

Activities that address current workforce gaps, such as work on construction projects, of state and local transportation agencies;

Activities to develop a robust surface transportation workforce with new skills resulting from emerging transportation technologies; and

Activities to attract new sources of job-creating investment. [§ 13007; 23 U.S.C. 504(e)]

• Requirements: Applicants should address how the project promotes local inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship such as the utilization of disadvantaged business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or 8(a) firms. 
• Evaluation: FHWA will assess Workforce Development, Job Quality, and Wealth Creation benefits of Program grant applications under the FHWA Priority Selection Considerations in Section E. 

Labor and Workforce: Each applicant selected for program grant funding must demonstrate, to the full extent possible consistent with the law, an effort to create good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and incorporation of high labor standards. To the extent that applicants have not sufficiently considered job quality and labor rights in their planning, as determined by DOL, the applicants will be required to do so before receiving funds for construction, consistent with E.O. 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and E.O. 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). 

Section 5204(e) provides for 100 percent federal funding if the core program funds are used for training, education, or workforce development purposes, including “pipeline” activities. Training and development include activities associated with surface transportation career awareness, student transportation career preparation. One of five core programs includes the On-the-Job Training Program – Supportive Service: Direct workforce funding: $50 million over 5 years. Requires State Transportation Agencies (STAs) to establish apprenticeship and training programs targeted to move women, minorities, and disadvantaged individuals into journey-level positions to ensure that a competent workforce is available to meet highway construction hiring needs, and to address the historical under-representation of these groups in highway construction skilled crafts. 

• Allowable Use: BIL expands the allowable uses of these funds to allow for engagement with workforce development boards and for activities around addressing workforce gaps and developing the surface transportation workforce. States can use unlimited funds from four large federal-aid highway programs: National Highway Performance Program, Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, Highway Safety Improvement Program, and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program.

What Role Can Cities Play

• Dedicate a portion of the funding to provide training programs for existing public transportation employees to equip them with the skills needed for operating and maintaining new technologies implemented on buses or rail systems through CMAQ
• Create teacher training and pre-apprenticeship opportunities, in collaboration with local K–12 systems, around operating and maintaining electric vehicle charging stations, repairing electric buses, installing bike lane infrastructure, and implementing and maintaining traffic management systems to expose educators and students to emerging job opportunities
• Embed living wage, local hire, or scheduling policies in CMAQ projects awards to increase the number of good jobs available to the community

Examples

• Kenosha, WI: CMAQ funds are being used to refurbish Metra station with updates to meet ADA requirements, wiring, plumbing, windows, new heating and air conditioning, repair and finishing upgrades for passenger waiting areas, brick work, and roof. The contract for the work was awarded to IHC Construction of Elgin, which has committed to subcontracting 30% of the work to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) firms to support equity and good jobs. 
• Iowa: The state has held workshops, webinars, trainings, or outreach events to raise awareness of the resources available to the community and jobs available in surface transportation and climate space.

Relevant Resources

• CMAQ program website
• CMAQ Project Dashboard
• DOT-FHWA CMAQ Page
• 23 CFR § 230.111, Implementation of Special requirements for the Provision of On-the-Job Training
• 23 CFR § 230.113, Subpart A, Implementation of Supportive Services
• Use of Core Funds for Workforce Development

Special Note: The workforce development standards noted above are also applicable to other core funds including National Highway Performance Program (NHPP), the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program and the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) per Title 23, United States Code, Section 504(e).

Agency: Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Amount: $2.75 billion 

NOFO: 2022 State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program

Focus: The subject of this NOFO—the $60 million State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program—is part of the Digital Equity Act’s larger State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, the purpose of which is to promote the achievement of digital equity, support digital inclusion activities, and build capacity for efforts by states toward the adoption of broadband by their residents. By creating their own State Digital Equity Plans, states can, among other things, identify barriers to digital equity and outline specific measures aimed at addressing those barriers. States that develop State Digital Equity Plans will then be able to apply for funds from the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program to implement those plans. Within one year of the date on which a state is awarded State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program funds, that state must develop a State Digital Equity Plan that includes elements outlined in the statute and herein, solicit and respond to public comments on the draft plan, and finalize that plan. Each state’s State Digital Equity Plan will be a key component of any application the state may later submit seeking a State Digital Equity Capacity Grant.

Eligible Entities

• States
• District of Columbia
• Puerto Rico
• Territories or possessions of the United States
• Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Native Hawaiian

High Level Process

• 2024 awards and any changes to 2025 processes have not yet been announced. 
• Prior processes worked as such
• For states (including Puerto Rico):
• The governor or equivalent official of an applicant state selected an Administering Entity to receive and administer the state’s grant funding. 
• Grant awards were formula-based and depended on the number and characteristics of states that apply. 
• After reviewing applications and determining which states are eligible to receive planning grants, NTIA applied the funding formula as detailed in Appendix A of the NOFO.
• Funding was awarded as a grant agreement.
• For Non-Entity States & Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Entities, and Native Hawaiian Organizations: 
• Letters of Intent were submitted to the Assistant Secretary.
• For Non-Entity States, grant awards were based on the criteria outlined in the NOFO with the approach for Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities and Native Hawaiian organizations contingent on the total number of applicants.
• Entities could enter into grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts with NTIA to carry out the activities for this program.

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

• Eligibility: 

• • Statutory Requirements 

The statutory requirements for the contents of State Digital Equity Plans are set forth in Section 60304(c)(1) of the Infrastructure Act, and are listed below: 

1. 1. Identification of barriers to digital equity faced by Covered Populations in the State. 
   2. Measurable objectives for documenting and promoting, among each Covered Population located in that State— a. The availability of, and affordability of access to, fixed and wireless broadband technology; b. The online accessibility and inclusivity of public resources and services; c. Digital literacy; d. Awareness of, and the use of, measures to secure the online privacy of, and cybersecurity with respect to, an individual; and e. The availability and affordability of consumer devices and technical support for those devices. 
   3. An assessment of how the measurable objectives identified in item 2 of this Section IV.C.1.b.i will impact and interact with the State’s— a. Economic and workforce development goals, plans, and outcomes; b. Educational outcomes; c. Health outcomes; d. Civic and social engagement; and e. Delivery of other essential services. 
   4. In order to achieve the measurable objectives identified in item 2 of this Section IV.C.1.b.i, a description of how the State plans to collaborate with key stakeholders in the State, which may include— a. Community anchor institutions; b. County and municipal governments; c. Local educational agencies; d. Where applicable, Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, or Native Hawaiian organizations; e. Nonprofit organizations; f. Organizations that represent— i. Individuals with disabilities, including organizations that represent children with disabilities; ii. Aging Individuals; iii. Individuals with language barriers, including— 1. Individuals who are English learners; and 2. Individuals who have low levels of literacy; iv. Veterans; and v. Individuals in that State who are incarcerated in facilities other than Federal correctional facilities; g. Civil rights organizations; h. Entities that carry out workforce development programs; i. Agencies of the State that are responsible for administering or supervising adult education and literacy activities in the State; k. Public housing authorities in the State; and l. A partnership between any of the entities described in clauses (a) through (k). 

• Example of eligible uses of funds:
• Develop, implement, and oversee digital equity plans
• Make awards to other entities to help in developing digital equity plans
• Improve the online accessibility and inclusivity of public resources
• Implement digital equity plans and digital inclusion activities
• Provide digital literacy and skills education to covered populations
• Facilitate the adoption of high-speed Internet by covered populations

• Additional Requirements:

• A description of how the state intends to accomplish the implementation strategy described above by engaging or partnering with; 
• Workforce agencies such as state workforce agencies and state/local workforce boards and workforce organizations; 
• Labor organizations and community-based organizations; and 
• Institutions of higher learning, including but not limited to four-year colleges and universities, community colleges, education and training providers, and educational service agencies. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Cities can gather data on their city’s digital equity landscape to support their state’s digital equity plans as outlined by National Skills Coaltion’s report. 
• By preparing now, advocates can ensure that their state’s digital equity efforts are closely connected to broader education and workforce goals; that they are reaching key populations such as rural communities and people of color; and that they are helping individuals and businesses build resiliency in the face of continued rapid technological change. 

Examples

• Milwaukee, WI: Connect to Compete, Inc. (EveryoneOn) was awarded $18,577 for the Digital Equity Insights in Milwaukee project. This project is designed to gather qualitative insights from the residents of Milwaukee in order to inform Wisconsin’s state digital equity plan. They will leverage their existing digital inclusion activities to gather data and insights from those disproportionately affected by digital inequities, including low-income households, diverse racial and ethnic communities, and older adults, among others, and inform workforce and education planning.
• Wisconsin: The Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, Inc. was awarded $25,053 for the Northwest Wisconsin Broadband Outreach Solution project. It will inventory broadband needs and resources, provide insights into broadband coverage in ten rural counties encompassing five tribal nations, and identify and promote actions being taken to address the digital divide including training and other workforce development efforts.
• Massachusetts: More than $1 million of funding will go toward digital equity, with officials there saying it will enable the state to hire a digital equity specialist, develop a statewide digital equity plan, work on the issue with higher education institutions, and also collaborate with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance on advice and best practices.

Relevant Resources

• Digital Equity Grant programs 
• 2023 Awards
• 2024 FAQ

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Amount: $5.8 billion 

NOFO: DWSRF Contacts for Application Information (by state)

Focus: The DWSRF is a financial assistance program to help water systems and states to achieve the health protection objectives of the SDWA. The state provides a 20 percent match. EPA is awarding capitalization grants to each state for their DWSRF based upon the results of the most recent Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment.

Eligible Entities: States can provide DWSRF financial assistance only to the following types of public water systems: 

• Existing privately-owned and publicly-owned community water systems and nonprofit non-community water systems, including systems utilizing point of entry or residential central treatment.
• A community water system is a public water system that serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents of the area served by the system or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. A community water system may be privately or publicly owned.
•  A nonprofit non-community water system is a public water system that is not a community water system and is owned and operated as a nonprofit entity such as a school. The nonprofit entity could be government owned. 
• New community water systems that represent cost-effective solutions to existing public health problems with serious risks caused by.
• Unsafe drinking water provided by individual wells or surface water sources, with the scope of the service area limited to the specific geographic area affected by contamination. 
• Technical, managerial, and financial difficulties that consolidation into a new regional community water system can address, with the scope of the service area limited to that of the systems involved.

To receive assistance from the DWSRF, systems must have the technical, managerial and financial (TMF) capability to ensure compliance with the SDWA. If the state determines that a system lacks technical, managerial and financial capability, that system may be eligible to receive assistance if it agrees to undertake feasible and appropriate changes in operations (including ownership, management, accounting, rates, maintenance, consolidation, alternative water supply, or other procedures). 

Eligible projects: The SDWA provides that DWSRF financial assistance may be used by an eligible public water system only for expenditures of a type or category which the EPA administrator has determined will facilitate compliance with national primary drinking water regulations or otherwise significantly further the health protection objectives of the Act. The DWSRF Interim Final Regulation identifies six broad categories of eligible projects. 

High Level Process

• Eligible entities submit directly to their state agencies. Contact the DWSRF program in your state or information on how to apply.
• A general overview of the DWSRF fund. 
• Eligible entities submit applications directly to their state. 
• Awardees receive loans (loan term up to 30 years) made to repair, replace, and build infrastructure since 1997. 
• Repayment begins up to 18 months after project completion. 
• As money is paid back into the state’s revolving loan fund, the state makes new loans to other awardees. 

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Loan program, indirectly supported through funded projects. 

Workforce Development Information 

Not explicitly addressed. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Offer loan forgiveness and other incentives for projects that include workforce development and training components.
• Establish local labor policies such as local hire, stable scheduling living wage or project labor agreements to protect workers

Examples

• San Diego, CA: As part of the Pure Water North City Water Reclamation Plant Expansion, the city of San Diego will construct a new water reuse/recycling facility to produce 30 million gallons per day (mgd) of purified water. This is the first phase in its multi year Pure Water Program that will use proven technology to clean non-potable reused/recycled water into safe, high-quality, drinking water and provide one-third of the city’s water supply by 2035. The percentage of city residents employed continues to increase, and veterans and apprentices make up a significant proportion of the targeted workers. Currently, there are 565 city residents employed on Pure Water projects, and this is expected to radically expand through the new plant requiring additional training. 

Relevant Resources

• Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) | US EPA 
• Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Eligibility Handbook
• Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Annual Allotment of Federal Funds for States, Tribes and Territories

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Amount: Approximately $2 billion

NOFO: 2024 Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program 

Focus: The block grants include multiple programs. The Community Change Grants will support comprehensive community and place-based approaches to redressing environmental and climate injustices for communities facing legacy pollution, climate change, and persistent disinvestment. 

Eligible Entities: Eligible applicants for the Community Change Grants include a partnership between two community-based nonprofit organizations (CBOs), or a partnership between a CBO and one of the following: a federally recognized Tribe, a local government, or an institution of higher education (IHE), including Minority Serving Institutions as further described in Section III.A. Other organizations and entities may participate in the Community Change Grants as Collaborating Entities through subawards, or as contractors selected in accordance with competitive procurement requirements. Further details about applicant eligibility, partnership requirements, Collaborating Entities, subawards, and procurement contracts are in Section III. 

High Level Process

• Eligible entities project(s) should support EPA’s FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan.
• The Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (Community Change Grants) selections are expected in April 2024 and the anticipated start of the period of performance for initial selections is June 2024. 
• For the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking (EJ TCGM) Program has selected 11 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmakers (i.e., Grantmakers) that will receive $600 million to serve as pass-through entities nationwide through the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (EJ TCGM) cooperative agreements.
• All block grant awards must be made by September 30, 2026.

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

• As noted in Section I.G of the NOFO, strong workforce development programs should include the following three features at a minimum: 

1. High-quality training models that are worker-centered, demand-driven, and lead to good jobs.

Examples of high-quality, evidence-backed training models are: Apprenticeship readiness programs (or “pre-apprenticeships”) with a connection to one or more Registered Apprenticeship Programs; Registered Apprenticeship Programs (registered via the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Apprenticeship or State Apprenticeship Agency); Joint Labor-Management Training Programs; paid internships; partnerships with community colleges or vocational schools that award an industry-recognized credential; and similar models that combine on-the-job learning, classroom learning, and mentorship. DOL has a resource on “high-road training programs” that applicants are invited to review here. 

2. Workforce development projects should be focused on training individuals for high-quality, long-term career pathways in family-sustaining jobs, rather than short-term or temporary, low-wage jobs. 

3. Applications should demonstrate that the workforce development project fulfills an industry demand in the Project Area and surrounding region, is informed and supported by employers, and has a clear pathway to long-term employment with family-sustaining wages. This will be key to delivering programs that enable true economic mobility for individuals in disadvantaged communities and bolster the capacity of communities to respond to environmental justice concerns in a sustained fashion. 

• Evaluation Considerations: Given that workforce development programs as described in Section I.G can be significant to achieving environmental and climate justice in many communities, EPA anticipates making a minimum of 15 awards for high-ranking applications that include a workforce training program(s) as further described in Section V.E. 

Eligible Uses include community-led air and other pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation, and investments in low- and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure and workforce development that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants 

• Eligibility: Applicants may propose measures to facilitate the employment and retention of workers from disadvantaged communities on funded projects. For example, applicants may propose developing recruitment strategies in partnership with their local workforce development board; funding supportive services for workers on grant-funded projects (e.g., transportation, childcare, mental health supports), coordinating such services with local social service providers; or establishing goals for hiring individuals from disadvantaged communities on the projects and transparently tracking progress toward those goals. Applicants may propose measures to increase community awareness of these job opportunities and the associated skill requirements, such as hiring workshops or job fairs. Applicants may also describe specific measures that will ensure Project Area residents are developing skills that are necessary to take advantage of existing or future jobs in professions contributing to the reduction of GHG emissions and other air pollutants. 
• Partnership: As noted in Section I.G of the NOFO, strong workforce development programs should include the following three features at a minimum: 1. Multi-sectoral partnerships that bring together workforce expertise and enable pathways into high-quality careers. 2. High-quality training models that are worker-centered, demand-driven, and lead to good jobs. 3. Strategies for recruiting and retaining individuals from disadvantaged communities, especially for populations that face disproportionate barriers to employment. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Create partnerships with green businesses, construction companies, and utilities to develop internship and job placement opportunities for students and use WIOA or other workforce development programs as a funnel for talent. 
• Launch marketing campaigns, based on labor market data, to raise awareness of green jobs and the opportunities that exist within the community for today’s workers.
• Partner with the K–12 system to develop teacher training to expose educators to new career pathways, competencies and opportunities in the climate workforce.

Examples

Note that the Funding Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change grants have not yet been awarded and are expected to launch later this year. National and regional grantmakers have been selected for the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program; grantmakers are not expected to begin opening competitions and awarding subgrants by fall 2024.

Other grants under the block grant included the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program which has made its 2023 awards. While these awards do include a number of workforce development efforts, they are not city led. 

Relevant Resources

• Advancing Environmental Justice | US EPA 
• Environmental and Climate Justice Program 
• Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program

Agency: Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA)/Resilience/Hazard Mitigation Directorate/Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Division

Amount: $800 million 

NOFO: FY23 Flood Mitigation Assistance

Focus: The purpose of the FMA program is to reduce or eliminate the flood risk of repetitive flood damage to structures and buildings insured by the NFIP, and to enhance community flood resilience within NFIP-participating communities.

Eligible Entities

• States
• District of Columbia
• U.S. territories
• Federally recognized Tribal governments
• Communities, including local governments, cities, townships, counties, special district governments, and Tribal governments (including federally recognized Tribes who choose to apply as sub applicants) are considered sub applicants and must submit sub applications to their state/territory/Tribal applicant agency.

High Level Process 

• Flood Mitigation Assistance selections focus on eliminating the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Subapplication submissions and selections with high saturations of Severe Repetitive and Repetitive Loss properties continue to increase.
• For the current round, applications opened October 16, 2023 and eligible entities had to apply by 02/29/2024 at 03 PM ET.
• Suggested Deadlines for Application Components:
  • Initial registration in SAM.gov includes UEI issuance
    • Four weeks before actual submission deadline
  • Obtaining a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN)
    • Four weeks before actual submission deadline
  • Creating an account with login.gov 
    • Four weeks before actual submission deadline
  • Register in SAM or Updating SAM registration
    • Four weeks before actual submission deadline
  • Registering in FEMA GO 
    • Four weeks before actual submission deadline
  • Submitting the final application in FEMA GO 
    • By the submission deadline
• Eligible entities will be notified via FEMA GO if they are awarded funds. Awardees must accept their awards no later than 30 days from the award date.
• Funds will be awarded as a grant agreement
• Available Funding for the NOFO: $800 million
  • a) Capability and Capacity Building Activities subtotal: $60 million
  • b) Localized Flood Risk Reduction Projects subtotal: $520 million
  • c) Individual Flood Mitigation Projects subtotal: $220 million

Dedicated Workforce Funding: Yes

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information: Up to $60 million for Capability and Capacity Building (C&CB) Activities which enhance the knowledge, skills, expertise, etc., of the current workforce to expand or improve the program’s administration. These activities may be used to develop future Localized Flood Risk Reduction Projects and/or Individual Flood Mitigation Projects that will subsequently reduce flood insurance claims submitted to the NFIP. 

• Guidance: FEMA requires state, local, federally recognized Tribal governments, and U.S. territories to develop and adopt hazard mitigation plans as a condition for receiving certain types of non-emergency disaster assistance, including funding for hazard mitigation assistance projects. Cities can consider including workforce training as part of the overall plan. 
• Evaluation: The sub application adequately describes how the costs and schedule will be managed, how the project will be successfully implemented, and how innovative techniques to facilitate implementation will be incorporated. The project’s scope of work identifies sufficient technical and managerial staff and resources to successfully implement this project. The sub application should describe whether and how the 10 Priority Description Available Points project will incorporate strong labor standards to ensure high-quality work, avert disruptive and costly delays, and promote efficiency. For example, strong labor standards include use of project labor agreements (PLAs), requiring workers to be paid wages at or above the prevailing rate, use of local hire provisions, using a directly employed workforce (as opposed to a subcontracted workforce), use of an appropriately skilled workforce, e.g., through Registered Apprenticeships or other joint labor management training programs that serve all workers, particularly those underrepresented or historically excluded); and use of an appropriately credentialed workforce (i.e., satisfying requirements for appropriate and relevant pre-existing occupational training, certification, and licensure). 

​​FEMA will select the highest ranked eligible sub application(s) for Additional Capability and Capacity Building Activities, not to exceed $300,000 federal cost share per sub applicant. Additional Capability and Capacity Building Activities, which enhance the knowledge, skills, expertise, etc., of the current workforce to expand or improve the administration of flood mitigation assistance. This includes activities in the following sub-categories: Partnership Development to Conduct Eligible Mitigation Activities, Enhancing Local Floodplain Management, SRL/RL Strategy Development, and other eligible Capability and Capacity Building Activities under 42 U.S.C. 4104c(c)(3)(G). 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Establish hiring guidelines for FMA projects that prioritize qualified workers from the local community and incentivize the use of apprentices to create strong pathways for underserved communities.
• Direct K–12 school systems to establish pre-apprenticeship programs for environmental infrastructure to provide not only exposure but also skill building and increase their connection to green careers.
• Include funding for community colleges, vocational schools, or other training providers to develop specialized curricula for the construction or maintenance of the clean water infrastructure projects as part of the implementation of FMA funds.

Examples

• Apache, AZ: The project aims to build a flood control facility near Lost Dutchman Boulevard and State Highway 88 in Apache Junction. The project will recharge the groundwater naturally using the impounded stormwater. The facility will also use nature-based solutions, including permitted surface recharge, to enhance water resource resilience and reduce reliance on the Colorado River.
• Canton, MS: The city of Canton is asking for grant funding for the Martin Luther King (MLK) South Flood Mitigation Project. As part of flood mitigation efforts, Canton is looking to carry out a capital improvement project that includes activities to improve detention/retention ponds and drainage channels. 
• Machesney Park, IL: The village of Machesney Park, which is immediately east of the Rock River, will purchase 19 parcels and demolish the residential structures located in the floodplain and floodway of Special Flood Hazard Areas. 
• Jefferson Parish, LA: 47 flood-prone structures will be elevated to meet the height of the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map base flood elevation, plus an additional two feet. This project will begin the engineering design phase to inform on how to elevate the structures. 

Relevant Resources

• Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program | FEMA.gov 
• Resources for the Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program | FEMA.gov

Agency: Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration

Amount: Up to $8 billion FY 2022 –2026

NOFO:  FY25-26 Multimodal Project Discretionary Grants

Focus: INFRA grants may be used for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or acquisition of property (including land related to the project and improvements to the land), environmental mitigation (including a project to replace or rehabilitate a culvert, or to reduce stormwater runoff for the purpose of improving habitat for aquatic species), construction contingencies, equipment acquisition, and operational improvements directly related to system performance. INFRA grant program funding will be made available under the MPDG combined Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). 

Eligible Entities

• A state or group of states 
• A metropolitan planning organization that serves an Urbanized Area (as defined by the Bureau of the Census) with a population of more than 200,000 individuals
• A unit of local government or group of local governments
• A political subdivision of a state or local government 
• A special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, including a port authority
• A federal land management agency that applies jointly with a state or group of states 
• A tribal government or a consortium of tribal governments
• A multistate corridor organization 
• A multistate or multijurisdictional group of entities described in this paragraph

High Level Process

• Annual award process expected through 2026.
• The Infra program awards competitive grants to fund multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance.
• Awardees will be contacted to initiate negotiation of a project-specific agreement.
• Applicants must use the provided cost calculations to determine whether the project is INFRA, MEGA or Rural

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

• Guidance: The Department seeks to fund projects that advance the Departmental priorities of safety, equity, climate and sustainability, and workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation as described in the USDOT Strategic Plan, Research, Development and Technology Strategic Plan, and in executive orders.

The Department intends to use the MPDG opportunity to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and workforce programs, in particular registered apprenticeships, labor management partnerships and Local Hire agreements, in project planning stages and program delivery. Projects that incorporate such planning considerations are expected to support a strong economy and labor market. Section E describes job creation and labor considerations an applicant can undertake and that the Department will consider during the review of applications. Projects that have not sufficiently considered job creation and labor considerations in their planning, as determined by the Department, will be required to do so to the full extent possible under the law before receiving funds for construction. See Section F.2 of this NOFO for program requirements. 

• Eligibility: Each applicant selected for MPDG grant funding must demonstrate, to the full extent possible consistent with the law, an effort to create good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and incorporation of high labor standards as described in Section A. To the extent that applicants have not sufficiently considered job quality and labor rights in their planning, as determined by the Department of Labor, the applicants will be required to do so before receiving funds for construction, consistent with Executive Order 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). 
• Evaluation: Work should result in high-quality job creation by supporting good-paying jobs with a free and fair choice to join a union in project construction and in ongoing operations and maintenance, and incorporate strong labor standards, such as through the use of project labor agreements, registered apprenticeship programs, and other joint labor-management training programs; result in workforce opportunities for historically underrepresented groups, such as through the use of local hire provisions or other workforce strategies targeted at or jointly developed with historically underrepresented groups, to support project development; foster economic growth and development while creating long-term high-quality jobs, while addressing acute challenges, such as energy sector job losses in energy communities as identified in the report released in April 2021 by the interagency working group established by section 218 of Executive Order 14008.
• Partnership: This section of the application should also list and briefly describe all of the other public and private parties who are involved in delivering the project, such as port authorities, terminal operators, freight railroads, shippers, carriers, freight-related associations, third-party logistics providers, and freight industry workforce organizations. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Advocate for grant applicants (e.g., state transportation departments) to incorporate workforce development strategies into their proposals. This can include budget allocations for training programs or local hiring initiatives.
• Establish hiring guidelines for INFRA projects that prioritize qualified workers from the local community and incentivize the use of apprentices to create strong pathways for underserved communities.
• Use funding for community colleges, vocational schools, or other training providers to develop specialized curricula for the construction or maintenance of infrastructure to accommodate increased demand for such skill sets.

Examples

• Duluth, MN and Superior, WI: This project will replace the Blatnik Bridge, a major connection between the cities of Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. The replacement bridge will address geometric deficiencies, increase capacity, and create a new shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians to access both states easily. Through the project they have developed a contract with the Duluth Workforce Center for outreach to groups underrepresented in the heavy construction trades, while also leveraging its workforce development program with Duluth Public Schools. 
• Seattle, WA: The project will rehabilitate the movable span of the Salmon Bay Bridge by replacing the counterweight, the counterweight truss, six of the eight bearings, and the counterweight links with steel members with a high resistance to fatigue. Executing the Salmon Bay Bridge project involves a number of high-skill, high-paying jobs. These include machinists, riggers, welders, steel workers, electricians, and others. Apprenticeship is the main route for individuals to attain these skills. The project is expected to create 85 of these skilled craft jobs and about 50 more general laborer and office jobs. The project also preserves high-paying railroad union jobs for the Sound Transit and Amtrak Cascade intercity passenger rail services using the bridge. 
• Ohio and Muhlenberg Counties, KY: This project will rehabilitate the Rockport Railroad Bridge by replacing the deck, filling in portions of the existing approach with rockfill and culvert pipes, and upgrading the electrical and mechanical components that allow the bridge to be raised to accommodate river traffic. The Rockport Bridge Rehabilitation Freight Rail Project would bring new employment opportunities to the region, which would increase access to good-paying job opportunities. The construction portion of the Project will generate 20–40 high-paying construction and engineering jobs. Bidders will be required to address how they will promote workforce opportunities for historically underrepresented groups. The Project will create five additional employment opportunities at the railroad. The railroad jobs are high-quality operational and maintenance jobs that allow employees to join a union, with established labor standards that are based on labor agreements, which include various labor-management programs. 
• Missouri State Department of Transportation: Missouri will use the INFRA grant for specific Improve I-70 projects, including truck parking, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), work zone safety technology, and workforce development, all to enhance the efforts of adding an additional lane to I-70.

Additional examples of INFRA grants being used for workforce development.

Relevant Resources

• The INFRA Grant Program | US Department of Transportation
• INFRA Awards 2022
• INFRA Awards 23-24

Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate-Ready Coasts initiative

Amount: Approximately $575 million

NOFO: NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge | 2023 Climate Ready Workforce Competition

Focus: Advancing local adaptation efforts in coastal regions through regional coordination and on-the-ground project implementation.

Eligible Entities

Investing in Coastal Communities and Climate Resilience

• Coastal states, territories, or tribes;
• Counties, cities, or other political subdivisions of a coastal state or territory, including special purpose units of government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities;
• District of Columbia;
• Institutions of higher education;
• Nonprofit organizations or associations, including those acting in cooperation with a state, tribal, local or territorial government; 
• Tribal organizations; and
• Regional councils of government and regional planning councils.

Climate Ready Workforce

• State
• Tribal, territorial and local governments, 
• Institutions of higher education, 
• Nonprofit organizations in coastal states or territories. 

High Level Process

• This grant process is currently underway with submissions due in Feb and awards expected this summer. 
• August 28, 2023 – Required letters of intent were due.
• October 13, 2023 – Applicant notification of letter of intent outcomes.
• February 13, 2024 – Application packages were due.
• Summer 2024 – NOAA notifies successful applicants. Note that for the Climate Ready Workforce, NOAA envisions making 10–20 awards under this competition, at amounts ranging from $500,000–$10 million each. Projects are expected to range in duration from 24 months to 48 months, beginning no earlier than August 1, 2024. 

Dedicated Workforce Funding: Yes for Climate Ready Workforce

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information: Applicants should also describe opportunities for individuals in underserved communities through educational opportunities, job training, job creation, workforce development, leadership development, and training programs structured toward long-term careers and not limited to entry-level skill building.

• Guidance: The project narrative should contain the following: Engagement, Workforce Development, and Knowledge Transfer. Must describe efforts, if any, to identify workforce needs that will be required to implement resilience and adaptation actions into the future. For Track Two, describe workforce requirements needed to implement identified projects.
• Eligibility: 
• Professional education and training activities are encouraged to address the enduring capacity priority. Other education-related activities (e.g., fellowships, internships) are encouraged to support workforce development efforts. 
• Education activities that do not directly support the program priorities of building enduring capacity for adaptation and resilience or contributing to workforce development are not likely to score well. 

Important Note: This grant sits alongside the The Climate-Ready Workforce grant which focuses on end-to-end recruitment into high quality jobs that enhance climate resilience by leveraging cross-sector partnerships, relevant training, and wraparound services (such as transportation and stipends). Projects funded under Climate-Ready Workforce will measurably increase the number of skilled professionals supporting equitable, local adaptation efforts, including those funded by the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge. NOAA will assist communities in coastal and Great Lakes states and territories so they may form partnerships that train workers and place them into jobs that enhance climate resilience. NOAA envisions making 10–20 awards under this competition, at amounts ranging from $500,000–$10 million each. This also sits alongside the Ocean-Based Climate Resilience Accelerators funding opportunity which supports business accelerators for small businesses and entrepreneurs to commercialize products and services that advance climate resilience.

Climate – Ready Workforce NOFO excerpts:

Requirements: Applicants will have all or most of the following characteristics: 

• Convening power in the region, which is the ability to catalyze collective action by relevant actors to address regional climate challenges. Exercising convening power is not an end-goal but rather a means to foster collective action to achieve desirable development outcomes. 
• Committed support of the executive leadership from the region and buy-in from appropriate relevant groups (e.g., a governor, mayor or chief executive of a jurisdiction, chief executives of major employers, heads of labor unions, presidents of two- and four-year institutions of higher education). 
• Strong fundraising or budget-management capabilities or connection to a system with strong fundraising capabilities. 
• Relationships and credibility with key players in the workforce ecosystem, including employers, governmental entities, state or local workforce development boards, educational institutions, labor organizations, and worker-serving organizations. 
• A proven track record of coordinating across sectors and partners and of driving relevant groups to successful action. 
• Dedicated full-time employee(s) focused on addressing regional workforce issues to support regional economic development. 
• Ability to translate various sectors’ objectives and key concerns to other sectors. 
• Strong outreach and engagement capabilities. 

Partnerships: Partners are essential within the Climate Ready Workforce Competition. Partners may include government entities, educational institutions (including community and technical colleges), training organizations, economic development organizations, workforce development organizations, unions, labor management partnerships, industry associations, employer-serving organizations, conservation corps, not-for-profits, philanthropic organizations, and/or community-based organizations.

Evaluation: The following are included in the evaluation criteria:

• Projects must support placement or promotion into good jobs that enhance climate resilience.
• Work collaboratively to grow regional workforces and their associated economies by (a) co-developing new or (b) enhancing existing training programs that meet the existing and emerging skills needs of employers. 
• Identification of specific, existing, or employer-projected needs by employers who are engaged in the sector partnership(s) or regional workforce recruitment system; 
• Proposed plan for how the project will address these needs by providing good jobs that enhance climate resilience. 
• Partnership development, including the process to gather skills needed from employers and translate these needs into effective training models and a demonstrated ability to implement these climate resilience and related skills training programs. 
• Training model and development specific to industries/sectors and worker roles related to climate resilience. If the proposal is for program design or program implementation, this evaluation will include the strength of the sector partnership or system. 
• Skill-based hiring training for employers in the partnership/system.
• How the applicant proposes to leverage other funds and/or in-kind support. 
• Worker and employer outreach and recruitment. 
• Wraparound services to support worker participation in the skills training program. 
• Measurement and tracking of outcomes and metrics. 
• The likelihood that plans and forecasted workers served and job placements that enhance climate resilience will be completed in the grant period within budget. 
• How well the proposed climate resilience skills determined by the applicant in their partnerships will support climate resilience. 
• Convene relevant groups: must submit commitment letters from relevant employers and strategic partners in the project and articulate what role they will fill, including executive sponsorship. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Cities can create comprehensive plans outlining strategies to address climate change impacts, including coastal vulnerabilities, such as restoring oyster reefs, and protecting coastal ecosystems. This plan can prioritize projects eligible for IRA funding under §40001 including workforce development training, apprenticeships and the implementation of policies to protect workers on climate change projects.
• Work with community colleges and local trade unions to include or refresh skills-based training around the implementation or upgrade of seawalls, storm drains, and wastewater treatment plants.

Examples 

Note that Climate Ready workforce grants are not expected till later this summer with projects to start in August. Samples below are from broader Investing in Coastal Communities work which is driving job creation. 

• Lincoln, MA: The project team will partner with the City of Worcester to advance design and engineering to improve and restore flood storage, floodplain reconnection, wetland habitat, and water quality, as well as offer new and enhanced recreational and educational opportunities. Mass Audubon believes this type of investment will help build back the Massachusetts economy by creating 97,000 full- and part-time jobs in the sectors of tourism, beach use, maritime use, and aquaculture.
• Louisiana: This project will restore oyster reef habitat in Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, and Texas. The funds will allow project partners to: expand oyster recycling efforts and community outreach at five established programs, build new oyster reefs and living shorelines, establish new oyster recycling programs in the gulf, support a learning exchange between regional oyster recycling programs, and engage more diverse, under-resourced communities in restoration work which will expand skills and increase local job opportunities.
• Rhode Island: This project will address sea level rise impacts by supporting the design and permitting of projects that protect important coastal wetland habitats within the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and will also create jobs and boost economic and environmental outcomes for coastal communities.

Relevant Resources

• IRA Section 40001 – Investing in Coastal Communities and Climate Resilience 
• Climate Ready Workforce Fact Sheet
• NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge

Agency: Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration

Amount: $1.5 billion for 2024

NOFO: FY24 Low- or No-Emission Program | FY24 Buses and Bus Facilities Program

Focus: Provides funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, the acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities, as well as supporting workforce development.

Eligible Entities: Direct or designated recipients of FTA grants; States; local governmental authorities; and Indian Tribes. Except for projects proposed by Indian Tribes, proposals for funding eligible projects in rural (non-urbanized) areas must be submitted as part of a consolidated state proposal. States and other eligible applicants also may submit consolidated proposals for projects in urbanized areas.

High Level Process

• Funding is allocated on a competitive basis each year in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5339 (c), BIL § 30018, BIL Division J through two grant opportunities: Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program and the Low-No Program
• Current proposals must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time 04/25/2024.

Dedicated Workforce Funding: Not dedicated, but up to .05% may be proposed

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information: LO-NO/Buses and Bus Facilities supports workforce development in local areas, as well as through the National Transit Institute (NTI). See relevant excerpts from the NOFO below.

• Guidance: 2024 funds include a specific focus on promoting workforce development with the goal of providing good-paying jobs while improving the reliability of transit systems. Announcement of the funds included an acknowledgment of ongoing exploration of solutions to ensure U.S. capacity to manufacture and deliver clean buses at a scale and pace needed to meet market demands and achieve national climate and equity goals. Any zero-emission project(s) or components of a project will include costs for workforce development, unless the applicant certifies funds are not needed for this purpose. Projects may include costs incidental to the acquisition of buses or to the construction of facilities, such as the costs of related workforce development and training activities, and project administration expenses, as long as the project proposed includes and results in an eligible capital asset being leased, purchased or built. (Federal Register/Vol. 89, No. 27/)

For applications related to zero-emission vehicles (including vehicles, facilities, equipment, etc.) under either the Low-No or Buses and Bus Facilities programs, applicants are required by law (49 U.S.C. 5339(c)(3)(D)) to submit a Zero-Emission Fleet Transition Plan that includes the examination of the transition’s impact on the applicant’s current workforce by identifying skill gaps, training needs, and retraining needs of the existing workers of the applicant to operate and maintain such vehicles. 

• Eligibility: 0.5% of a request may be for workforce development training and an additional 0.5% may be for training at the National Transit Institute (NTI). Applicants proposing any project related to zero-emission vehicles must also spend 5% of their award on workforce development and training as outlined in their Zero-Emission Transition Plan, unless the applicant certifies that their financial need is less.
• Evaluation: FTA will give priority consideration to zero-emission applicants able to demonstrate that they have consulted with workforce representatives on all aspects of the workforce section of the fleet transition plan; and include steps to provide or connect workers to supportive services (such as childcare and transportation assistance); and identify the use of at least one of the following in their plan: (1) use of labor-management partnerships for training; (2) use of registered apprenticeship training to support skilling of incumbent and entry-level workers with focus on using registered apprenticeship to advance Black, Hispanic, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, tribal, women, and other groups facing systemic barriers to employment who may be underrepresented in the current workforce, especially in higher-paying jobs. FTA will also provide priority consideration for applicants that describe how their projects support workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation. Applicants for facility projects should identify whether they will commit to registered apprenticeship positions and use apprentices on the funded facility project.
• Supplementary Information: Any zero-emission project(s) or components of a project will include costs for workforce development, unless the applicant certifies funds are not needed for this purpose. In general, projects may include costs incidental to the acquisition of buses or to the construction of facilities, such as the costs of related workforce development and training activities, and project administration expenses, as long as the project proposed includes and results in an eligible capital asset being leased, purchased, or built.
• Partnership: Applicants should detail partnerships with high-quality workforce development programs with supportive services to help train, place, and retain underrepresented communities in jobs and registered apprenticeships on the facility project; and, for facility projects over $35 million in total project cost, whether the project will use a Project Labor/ Community Workforce Agreement AND, for facility projects over $35 million, whether the recipient commits to participate in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) Mega Construction Project Program if selected by OFCCP (see F.2.e. Federal Contract Compliance). Applicants are specifically encouraged to discuss training needs with their workforce and to develop training plans in collaboration with unions and other workforce representatives, as well as with workforce boards, community colleges and other workforce organizations. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Provide assistance to companies and anchor institutions in developing Project Labor / Community Workforce Agreements to increase the quality of jobs and protections of workers
• Lean into partnerships with workforce development agencies to craft training programs that will support pathways for underserved communities
• Create marketing campaigns, in conjunction with other community partners, to elevate knowledge of career opportunities in the zero-emission commercial vehicle space

Examples

• Rochester, NY: Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus and Fueling Infrastructure workforce development grant of $352,000 will help RGRTA and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 282 expand their workforce programs, including training programs for bus washers to qualify for technician jobs.
• Marin County, CA: The Marin County Transit District will receive a $31.5 million grant awarded to build an electric bus facility, allowing it to continue investing in infrastructure needed to convert to a zero-emission fleet, and initiate a workforce training program.
• Hawaii: Receiving $1.2 million for workforce development, including a focus on recruiting more women and people of color into transit jobs. Hawaii is using this funding to address its WIOA State Unified Plan for 2020–2023 which focuses on addressing one of its four long-term industry growth areas, transportation and warehousing.
• Iowa: The Iowa Department of Transportation received funding to buy battery-electric buses to replace older diesel buses, along with charging equipment. The project will also support the construction of transit facilities and workforce development activities.

Relevant Resources

• LO-NO program website
• Zero-Emission Fleet Transition Plan 
• Webinar Presentation

Agency: Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration

Amount: Up to $5 billion FY 2022 through 2026

NOFO: FY25-26 Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Opportunity

Focus: The Mega Program (the National Infrastructure Project Assistance program) supports large, complex projects that are difficult to fund by other means and likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits. The Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant common application (MPDG) provides federal financial assistance to highway and bridge, intercity passenger rail, railway-highway grade and separation, wildlife crossing, public transportation, marine highway, and freight and multimodal projects, or groups of such projects, of national or regional significance, as well as to projects to improve and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas.

Eligible Entities

• A state or a group of states;
• A metropolitan planning organization; 
• A unit of local government; 
• A political subdivision of a state; 
• A special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, including a port authority; 
• A Tribal government or a consortium of Tribal governments;
• A partnership between Amtrak and 1 or more entities described in (1) through (6); and 
• A group of entities described in any of (1) through (7). 

High Level Process

• Annual awards expected through 2026.
• The Mega grant program funding is made available under the MPDG combined Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
• Selected awardees will be contacted to initiate negotiation of a project-specific agreement.
• Applicants must use the provided cost calculations to determine whether the project is INFRA, MEGA or Rural.

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

The Department intends to use the MPDG opportunity to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and workforce programs, in particular registered apprenticeships, labor management partnerships and Local Hire agreements, in project planning stages and program delivery. Projects that incorporate such planning considerations are expected to support a strong economy and labor market. Section E describes job creation and labor considerations an applicant can undertake and that the Department will consider during the review of applications. Projects that have not sufficiently considered job creation and labor considerations in their planning, as determined by the Department, will be required to do so to the full extent possible under the law before receiving funds for construction. See Section F.2 of this NOFO for program requirements. 

• Eligibility and Evaluation: Each applicant selected for MPDG grant funding must demonstrate, to the full extent possible consistent with the law, an effort to create good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and incorporation of high labor standards as described in Section A. To the extent that applicants have not sufficiently considered job quality and labor rights in their planning, as determined by the Department of Labor, the applicants will be required to do so before receiving funds for construction, consistent with Executive Order 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). 

• Partnership: This section of the application should also list and briefly describe all of the other public and private parties who are involved in delivering the project, such as port authorities, terminal operators, freight railroads, shippers, carriers, freight-related associations, third-party logistics providers, and freight industry workforce organizations. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Collaborate with companies awarded Mega grants to encourage them to utilize local hiring practices, establish community based agreements and partner with local training programs to fill construction jobs.
• In anticipation of Mega-funded projects, cities can develop or expand training programs focused on the skills needed for infrastructure construction including carpentry, welding, electrician work.

Examples

• St. Bernard Parish, LA: The project will construct a new container terminal on the Gulf Coast for the Port of New Orleans that is not air-draft restricted. The project will include approximately 1,700 feet of wharf, two ramps to connect the wharf to the container yard, an automated stacking crane yard, utilities, storm drainage, all necessary buildings for operations, entry and exit gates, intermodal rail yard, realignment of the Norfolk Southern rail and realignment of St Bernard Highway. The project will create approximately 4,300 new jobs in the Violet community of St. Bernard Parish, an area of persistent poverty and historic disadvantage, in addition to coordinating transit connections to facilitate workforce training and the new facility.
• Jackson County, SD: The project will reconstruct approximately 8.7 miles of South Dakota Highway 73 and add lighting improvements along nearly one mile of SD 248 in the City of Kadoka. The project will expand roadway, improve lighting, and improve drainage to protect motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. It will also replace outdated and degrading infrastructure along the corridor and help improve mobility and connectivity for the Pine Ridge Reservation, enabling them to more easily access places of work and other services across the county while creating net new jobs for community members. 
• Monongalia County, WV: The project includes replacing I-79 bridges over Chaplin Hill Road, reconstructing exit 155 interchange, WB I-79 flyover reconstruction, and a pedestrian and bicycle connection between the Star City bridge and the regional rail-to-trail network. The project will improve an area with a higher than average crash rate, address a freight bottleneck, improve access to a job training center for individuals with disabilities, and will reconnect communities.
• Louisiana Department of Transportation: I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge Replacement Project funding will design and construct a new Bridge over the Calcasieu River with three travel lanes and one auxiliary lane in each direction. LADOTD estimates the project will create 16,120 jobs; generate over $800M in benefits. 

Relevant Resources

• MEGA Awards 23-24

Agency: Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration

Amount: Up to $7.5 billion

NOFO: National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program Guidance 

Focus: The purpose of the NEVI Formula Program is to provide funding to states to strategically deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure and to establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability. Funding is available for up to 80% of eligible project costs.

Eligible Entities: States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

High Level Process

• All 52 initial Plans were submitted to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) by the established due date of August 1, 2022. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reviewed and approved the initial Plans by September 27, 2022.
• Updated Plans for each fiscal year must be submitted by August 1 of the prior fiscal year. Timely Plans will be reviewed and approved (or rejected) by September 30 (of the prior fiscal year) to be ready for implementation for the following fiscal year. 
• Updated Plans will, once again, be submitted to the Joint Office. States are highly encouraged to use the template found at DriveElectric.gov and FHWA’s NEVI Website.

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

• Guidance: Labor and Workforce Considerations: This section of the Plan should consider the training, experience level, and diversity of the workforce that is installing and maintaining EV charging infrastructure which will create new opportunities for workers in the electrical and other construction trades, while also creating work for the skilled incumbent workforce around the country. To ensure safety and high-quality delivery, each Plan should consider the training and experience level of the workforce that is installing and maintaining EV charging infrastructure. This includes a discussion in the Plan describing how a state shall ensure that the workforce is trained in high-quality training programs like the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) or otherwise comply with the qualified technician requirements in 23 CFR 680.106(j). To help meet the workforce needs of the NEVI Formula Program, each plan should also consider steps that will grow and diversify their local workforce. This includes utilizing innovative contracting approaches authorized by law to maximize job creation and economic benefits for local communities. This also includes taking proactive steps to encourage broader participation among women, Black, Latino, Asian American Pacific, Indigenous, and other underrepresented groups in the development of those workforces. States should also consider how they can expand registered apprenticeships and invest in entry-level training programs like quality pre-apprenticeship programs. Consistent with Justice40, states should also consider how disadvantaged communities will benefit from this added job growth. Plans should describe how the qualified technician requirements under 23 CFR 680.106(j) will be reflected in a state’s contracting and procurement strategies. Strong labor, training, and installation standards will help produce a nationwide network of 500,000 EV chargers by 2030 that provides a convenient, reliable, affordable, and equitable charging experience for all users. See 23 CFR 680.106(j) for applicable minimum requirements for qualified technicians. See also Questions and Answers for best practices surrounding labor and equitable workforce considerations. This section of the Plan should address the following, as applicable: States should indicate changes in labor and equitable workforce considerations outlined in Plans from prior fiscal years. At a minimum, this should include a discussion of how the state will ensure that the workforce installing, maintaining, and operating chargers has appropriate licenses, certifications and training in compliance with 23 CFR 680.106(j). Plans should also discuss how these qualified workforce requirements are enforced through the state’s NEVI contracting and procurement strategies. 

States also must comply with the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Standards and Requirements (title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 680), effective 3/30/23. These Standards specify technical aspects of chargers, including connector types, power levels, minimum number of charging ports per station, minimum uptime (reliability standards), and payment methods; data submittal requirements; workforce requirements for installation, operation, or maintenance by qualified technicians; interoperability of EV charging infrastructure; traffic control devices and signage; network connectivity; and publicly available information. 

To help meet the workforce needs of the NEVI Formula Program, each Plan should also consider steps that will grow and diversify their local workforce. This includes utilizing innovative contracting approaches authorized by law to maximize job creation and economic benefits for local communities. This also includes taking proactive steps to encourage broader participation among women, Black, Latino, Asian American Pacific, Indigenous, and other underrepresented groups in the development of those workforces. States should also consider how they can expand registered apprenticeships and invest in entry-level training programs like quality pre-apprenticeship programs. Consistent with Justice40, states should also consider how disadvantaged communities will benefit from this added job growth. 

• Eligibility: Workforce development activities for NEVI Formula Program projects are eligible so long as they are directly related to the charging of an electric vehicle. These costs must be allowable, allocable, and reasonable in accordance with 2 CFR part 200. 
• Evaluation: Other evaluation indicators a state might consider: Program benefits, such as job creation, EV adoption, improved access to EV charging infrastructure, and benefits to underserved communities. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Proactively reach out to their state DOT involved in developing NEVI spending plans and advocate for the importance of workforce development as part of the NEVI implementation strategy.
• Develop or expand training programs focused on EV charger installation, maintenance, and repair (including DC fast chargers, Level 2 chargers, and wireless charging technologies) to demonstrate readiness for investment and provide a skilled workforce to meet the labor need. 

Examples

• Boise, ID: Received a $3.2 million grant to create public electric vehicle (EV) charging sites, as well as a workforce development initiative to incorporate electric vehicle charging training into two local electrician apprenticeship programs. Boise’s proposal includes strong stakeholder engagement as well as a demonstrated, data-based commitment to prioritize the needs of disadvantaged communities. 
• Palmdale, CA: Received $14.8 million to install 390 Level-2 and 22 DC fast chargers at 46 locations across Los Angeles County. The project also invests in workforce development and creates a specific pre-apprenticeship program to help meet the critical need for electricians. 
• Michigan: Will receive a total of roughly $110 million in NEVI Formula Program funding through Fiscal Year 2026. Michigan launched the EV Jobs Academy prior to the establishment of the NEVI Formula Program, which is a cooperative of over 100 public and private partners collaborating to identify mobility and EV skill needs and to develop postsecondary training programs to support EV deployment.
• Illinois: The Illinois Highway Construction Careers Training Program boosts participation of diverse individuals in the industry and on Illinois highway construction projects. The program will develop an EV curriculum that aligns with federal NEVI Formula Program Guidance and serve as a workforce development pipeline for NEVI projects. 

Additional information on actions that transportation agencies may want to take to expand the workforce for installing and maintaining electric vehicle chargers.

Relevant Resources

• National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program
• National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program Fact Sheet 
• State Plans for Electric Vehicle Charging

Agency: Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD)

Amount: $450 million in FY 2024

NOFO: FY24 Port Infrastructure Development Program

Focus: Supports efforts by ports and industry stakeholders to improve port and related freight infrastructure to meet the nation’s freight transportation needs and ensure our port infrastructure can meet anticipated growth in freight volumes. The PIDP provides funding to ports in both urban and rural areas for planning and capital projects. It also includes a statutory set-aside for small ports to continue to improve and expand their capacity to move freight reliably and efficiently and support local and regional economies.

Eligible Entities

• A state or political subdivision of a state or a local government
• A public agency or publicly chartered authority established by one or more states 
• A special purpose district with a transportation function
• An Indian Tribe
• A multistate or multijurisdictional group of entities described above
• A lead entity described above jointly with a private entity or group of private entities (including the owners or operators of a facility, or collection of facilities, at a port). Federal agencies are not eligible applicants for the FY 2024 PIDP.

High Level Process

• Eligible entities must apply by May 10, 2024 at 11:59:59 p.m. E.D.T.
• Eligible entities will be notified via Port Infrastructure Development Program | MARAD. MARAD seeks to obligate FY 2024 PIDP funds by September 30, 2027. 
• MARAD will enter into a written grant agreement after the applicant has satisfied applicable administrative requirements, including transportation planning and environmental review requirements. 

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

• Guidance: Maritime Administration (MARAD) will also consider the extent to which applications align with the selection considerations of Climate Change and Sustainability; Equity and Justice40; and Workforce Development, Job Quality, and Wealth Creation, and may give priority to those projects that align well when selecting among highly rated applications. Projects will also be evaluated for project readiness. 
• Evaluation: MARAD will consider the extent to which projects support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and training and placement programs, especially registered apprenticeships. Projects will rate more highly on this criterion if the application narrative demonstrates that the project will: (1) create good-paying, safe jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union, including through the use of project labor agreements; (2) promotes investments in high-quality workforce development programs with supportive services to help train, place, and retain people in good-paying jobs or registered apprenticeships. These programs should have a focus on women, people of color, and others who are underrepresented in infrastructure jobs (people with disabilities, people with convictions, etc.); (3) include changes to hiring policies and workplace cultures to promote the entry and retention of underrepresented populations; or (4) promotes local inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship such as the utilization of disadvantaged business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or 8(a) firms. Reviewers will assign applications a “high,” “medium,” “low,” or “non-responsive” rating based on how well the project addresses this topic.
• Evaluation: MARAD will evaluate projects that meet the purpose of the PIDP based on their alignment with the following statutory merit criteria: Achieving Safety, Efficiency, or Reliability Improvements; Supporting Economic Vitality; Leveraging Federal Funding; and Improving Port Resilience. MARAD will also consider the extent to which applications align with the selection considerations of Climate Change and Sustainability; Equity and Justice40; and Workforce Development, Job Quality, and Wealth Creation, and may give priority to those projects that align well when selecting among highly rated applications. Projects will also be evaluated for project readiness. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Partner with community colleges, vocational schools, and maritime training centers to develop or expand training programs focused on skills needed for port jobs such as crane operation, cargo handling, logistics management, and maritime maintenance.
• Encourage grant recipients (e.g., port authorities) to prioritize hiring local residents for jobs created through PIDP-funded projects and establish community benefits agreements so that the voices of underrepresented individuals are heard.

Examples

• Panama City, FL: Port Panama City East Terminal Phase Two Expansion Project. The project includes final design and construction of a 200,000-square-foot warehouse, along with an associated rail spur extension and terminal roadway improvements to serve the warehouse. This project will create 337 jobs, $30 million in personal income and local consumption and $2.7 million in state and local taxes.
• Seldovia, AK: Seldovia was awarded a PIDP grant for Jakolof Bay Dock Replacement project which will help to sustain a prosperous fishing fleet, increase the number and quality of year-round employment, develop Seldovia’s workforce, maximize Seldovia’s working and commercial waterfront, enhance tourism, respond effectively to changes in the economic climate.
• Virginia: The project will convert an existing marine terminal and berth to an offshore wind logistics facility. Project elements include berth improvements to support the processing of heavy lift cargo and offshore wind submarine cables, and the construction of a floating pier to transfer personnel and light cargo will support the creation of new wind jobs in the state.

Relevant Resources

• Port Infrastructure Development Program | MARAD

Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration

Amount: $1.4 billion over 5 years

NOFO: FY22-23 PROTECT Program 

Focus: Provides funding to ensure surface transportation resilience to natural hazards including climate change, sea level rise, flooding, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters through support of planning activities, resilience improvements, community resilience and evacuation routes, and at-risk coastal infrastructure.

Eligible Entities

• State governments
• Local governments 
• Federally recognized Tribes and affiliated groups 
• Planning and project organizations
• U.S. territories

High Level Process

• Eligible entities submit applications by 11:59 p.m., EST, on August 18, 2023 to DOT. 
• Eligible entities will be notified if they were or were not selected to receive funding. 
• State Awardees: Funds will be obligated to awardees via the execution of a project agreement.
• Non-State Awardees: Funds will be obligated to awardees via the execution of a grant agreement.

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

Workforce Development, Job Quality, and Wealth Creation 

• Application reflects one or more of the following: 
• Include project labor agreements;
• Describe how the project will expand strong labor standards, including not only compliance with prevailing wage requirements but also non-construction labor provisions that are relevant to the project such as transit, railroad, and Buy America protections; 
• Commit to registered apprenticeship positions and use apprentices on the funded project, sometimes called an apprenticeship utilization requirement (e.g., requiring that a percentage of all labor hours will be performed by registered apprentices); 
• Include high-quality workforce development programs with supportive services to help train, place, and retain people in good-paying jobs or registered apprenticeship;
• Demonstrate clear utilization of local and economic hiring preferences that ensure workers on the project come from economically disadvantaged communities;
• Track and publish aggregate workforce data, including information on demonstrating that employment opportunities are available to historically underserved workers in their communities;
• Identify training programs that are diverse, including pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship readiness programs, and explain how individuals from these programs are considered for and hired for apprenticeship slots and other jobs on the project; 
• Describe a state/regional/local comprehensive plan to promote equal opportunity, including removing barriers to hire and preventing harassment on work sites, and ensure that plan demonstrates action to create an inclusive environment with a commitment to equal opportunity, including:
• Affirmative efforts to remove barriers to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) above and beyond complying with Federal law and proactive partnerships with the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) to promote compliance with the requirements of E.O.11246, EEO. 
• Guidance: Labor and Workforce Each applicant selected for PROTECT grant funding must demonstrate, to the full extent possible consistent with the law, an effort to create good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and incorporation of high labor standards. To the extent that applicants have not sufficiently considered job quality and labor rights in their planning, as determined by DOL, the applicants will be required to do so before receiving funds, consistent with E.O. 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and E.O. 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Encourage funded contractors to develop or incorporate resilience-focused training into their workforce development plans for these projects.
• Collaborate with vocational schools or community colleges to develop or expand training programs focused on construction practices considering climate resilience factors.
• Include requirements encouraging contractors to prioritize workforce development through local hiring or training initiatives such as PLAs or CBAs.

Examples

Example projects can be found in the PROTECT Formula Program Implementation Guidance. 

Relevant Resources

• Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation Program (PROTECT) Grant Program Information 

Agency: Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration

Amount: $573,264,000

NOFO: FY22 RCE Grant Program

Focus: The purpose of the RCE Program is to fund highway-rail or pathway-rail grade crossing improvement projects that focus on improving the safety and mobility of people and goods. Improve American rail infrastructure to enhance rail safety, improve the health and safety of communities, eliminate highway-rail and pathway-rail grade crossings that are frequently blocked by trains, and reduce the impacts that freight movement and railroad operations may have on underserved communities.

Eligible Entities

• A state, including District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other United States territories and possessions
• A political subdivision of a state
• A federally recognized Indian Tribe
• A unit of local government or a group of local governments 
• A public port authority

High Level Process

• Typically a competitive annual award process. In the past has functioned as such:
• FRA will conduct a four-part application review process.
• FRA will announce applications selected for funding in a press release and on FRA’s website after the application review period. 
• Awardee must have an approved scope, schedule, and budget from FRA, before obligating the grant. Funds will be awarded as a grant agreement. 

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

• Guidance: Applicants should describe how planning activities and project delivery actions advance good-paying, quality jobs and workforce programs and hiring policies that promote workforce inclusion.

DOT Strategic Goals: To the extent feasible, and consistent with the selection criteria described in Section F.2, applicants should describe efforts to consider climate change and sustainability impacts, as well as efforts to improve equity and reduce barriers to opportunity in project planning. In addition, applicants should describe how planning activities and project delivery actions advance good-paying, quality jobs and workforce programs and hiring policies that promote workforce inclusion.

• Eligibility: Each applicant selected for grant funding should ensure planning activities and project delivery actions advance good-paying, quality jobs and workforce programs and hiring policies that promote workforce inclusion, consistent with Executive Order 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). Specifically, the project must support: (a) strong labor standards and the choice to join a union, including project labor agreements and distribution of workplace rights notices; (b) support of high-quality workforce development programs, including registered apprenticeship, labor-management training programs, and supportive services to help train, place, and retain people in good-paying jobs and apprenticeship; and (c) comprehensive planning and policies to promote hiring and inclusion for all groups of workers, including through the use of local and economic hiring preferences, linkage agreements with workforce programs that serve these underrepresented groups, and proactive plans to prevent harassment. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Prioritize local hiring in project bidding processes for RCE projects funded by the program.
• Conduct awareness campaigns with residents in disadvantaged communities to inform them about workforce development opportunities related to RCE projects, working with community-based partners and other trusted communicators. 
• Engage employers, through sector strategies, in the development of pathways for workers to enter roles focused on eliminating at-grade railroad crossings, upgrading existing crossings, or constructing pedestrian or vehicle underpasses/overpasses by building skills in operating engineering (heavy machinery), carpentry and ironwork (bridge construction), electricity and communications technicians (signaling systems), and tracklaying and road construction (infrastructure improvements). 

Examples

• Hammond, IN: The project will construct a new, centrally located overpass and eliminate two grade crossings where Parrish Avenue and Arizona Avenue intersect with Norfolk Southern Railway’s rail line. Given its proximity to Chicago’s vast rail network, this area has persistently dealt with blocked crossings, congestion, and connectivity challenges. The new overpass will eliminate major traffic delays on some of the city’s busiest streets and better connect residents, like those in southeast Hessville, where highway rail crossing delays impact their ability to get to their jobs, the grocery store, or other required services and amenities.
• Houston, TX: Will receive $36.92 million for the West Belt Improvement Project (Phase 1) to support project development activities, final design and construction of a 9,000-foot sealed corridor, including the construction of four underpasses and the closure of four at-grade crossings to eliminate seven existing at-grade crossings. The project is part of the city’s effort to create a future 14,600-foot sealed corridor along the Houston Belt & Terminal Railroad (HB&T) line and is anticipated to be a key driver in job creation for the community.
• Pelham, AL: Will receive $41.77 million for the Railroad Crossing Elimination on Shelby County Road 52 project, which will construct a bridge and eliminate two existing at-grade crossings and is expected to create new, high-quality jobs. The new bridge is slated to increase capacity to five lanes with a multi-use path to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists. It will establish a permanent, reliable route for emergency responders and decrease delays for the 24,000 drivers utilizing County Road 52 daily.

Relevant Resources 

• Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program | FRA 
• 2022 Awards and 2023 Announcements

Agency: Department of Transportation

Amount: Provides $1.5 billion annually for FY 2022 – 2026 

NOFO: FY24 RAISE Grant Program 

Focus: RAISE grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, per statute, for planning or constructing surface transportation infrastructure projects that will improve safety; environmental sustainability; quality of life; mobility and community connectivity; economic competitiveness and opportunity including tourism; state of good repair; partnership and collaboration; and innovation. RAISE will invest in surface transportation that will have a significant local or regional impact; and support projects that are consistent with the Department’s strategic goals: improve safety, economic strength and global competitiveness, equity, and climate and sustainability. 

Eligible Entities

• States;
• The District of Columbia; 
• Any territory or possession of the United States; 
• A unit of local government;
• A public agency or publicly chartered authority established by one or more states;
• A special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, including a port authority; 
• A federally recognized Indian Tribe or a consortium of such Indian Tribes;
• A transit agency; and
• A multistate or multijurisdictional group of entities that are separately eligible. 

High Level Process 

• Eligible entities submit applications to DOT by 11:59 PM Eastern on February 28, 2024.
• RAISE grant award selections will be announced by no later than June 27, 2024.
• A list of selected award recipients will be posted via RAISE program website. 
• DOT will contact awardees and initiate negotiation of a grant agreement. 
• RAISE Program funds will be administered on a reimbursement basis.
• Tentative future NOFO publication dates and application deadlines for FYs 2025 and 2026 are listed below:
• FY 2024 (BIL Fiscal Year Funding)
• NOFO Publication Date: November 30, 2023
• Application Deadline: February 28, 2024
• FY 2025 (BIL Fiscal Year Funding)
• NOFO Publication Date: October 15, 2024
• Application Deadline: January 13, 2025
• FY 2026 (BIL Fiscal Year Funding)
• NOFO Publication Date: October 15, 2025
• Application Deadline: January 13, 2026

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information 

• See relevant excerpts of the NOFO below. 
• The goal of the RAISE program is to fund eligible surface transportation projects that will have a significant local or regional impact that advance the Departmental priorities of safety, equity, climate and sustainability, and workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation, consistent with law, and as described in the Department’s Strategic Plan and in executive orders. 

• Eligibility: 
• Labor and Workforce: Each applicant selected for RAISE grant funding must demonstrate, to the full extent possible consistent with the law, an effort to create good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and incorporation of strong labor standards as described in Section E, consistent with Executive Order 14025.

• Evaluation:
•  Project has, or demonstrates plans to, support and engage diverse people and communities by doing one or more of the following:
• Partner with high-quality workforce development programs with supportive services to help train, place, and retain people in good-paying jobs or registered apprenticeships. These programs should have a focus on expanding access for women, people of color, and others who are underrepresented in infrastructure jobs (people with disabilities, people with convictions, etc.);
• Partner with communities or community groups representative of historically underrepresented groups to develop workforce strategies

• Partnership:
• Applicants should describe how the project incorporates specific actions and activities identified in the Department’s Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making Guide; coordinate with other types of projects such as economic development, commercial or residential development near public transportation, power/electric infrastructure projects, or broadband deployment; partner with Disadvantaged Business Enterprises or 8(a) firms; partner with high-quality workforce development programs with supportive services to help train, place, and retain underrepresented communities in good paying jobs or registered apprenticeships including through the use of local and economic hiring preferences, linkage agreements with workforce programs that serve underrepresented groups, and proactive plans to prevent harassment; partner and engage with local unions or other worker based organizations in the development and lifecycle of the project, including through evidence of project labor agreements and/or community benefit agreements; or partners with communities, or community groups representative of historically underrepresented groups, to develop workforce strategies; or establish formal public-private partnerships or joint ventures to expand or create new infrastructure or economic development capacity. DOT will assess the level of detail and description provided about the partnerships listed above. Applications that provide more details and descriptions about the project partnership will be rated higher than those that do not, in alignment with the merit rating rubric. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Use funding to support the development of training materials and curriculum, through the K–12 and community college system, for sustainable, green transportation. 
• Providing resources to address potential barriers to employment, such as transportation assistance or childcare support for program participants so that they can complete training programs and enter green transportation jobs.
• Use a portion of the funding to raise local awareness of green jobs so that community members personally benefit from improvements to roadways.

Examples

• Burlington, VT: The project focuses on providing safer and more accessible streets for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized users, while aligning with National Roadway Safety Strategy Plan for Safer Roads and municipal design standards for “Great Streets” in the downtown area. The project includes a workforce development component to provide multiple pathways for residents to learn the right skills and provide support for youth development and opportunities. This includes a Youth Development and Skills Gap study aimed at better understanding youth definitions of success, obstacles they face in achieving success, the skills they need to succeed and how they perceive they can be helped by others to do so, as well as a multi-pathway training program which exposed youth to a greater breadth of skills including digital literacy, critical thinking and problem solving; initiative and entrepreneurship; communication and collaboration skills; emotional intelligence and self-awareness and effective oral and written communication.
• Georgetown, DE: This innovative project will be the first trail in Delaware to utilize a video detection system that automatically activates a rectangular rapid flashing beacon to provide drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists advance notice of their approach at a trail intersection. There will be on-the-job training specifically for women, people of color, and those with convictions, after which participants can transition to registered apprenticeships. 
• Louisville, KY: This planning project will advance three specific Complete Streets projects: The first component will create a unified vision for premium transit on Route 23, the corridor’s main line, through public engagement; identification of locations for transfers, BRT connections, and ITS needs; and a disadvantaged workforce plan. The project sponsor will work with the Kentuckiana Builds program to bring more women and minorities into construction jobs. Kentuckiana Builds is a six-week construction trade pipeline program focused primarily on placing people of color and women in the construction sector. Completion of the Kentuckiana Builds program also provides graduates with 12 credit hours at Jefferson Community and Technical College. 
• Grant County, WV:The project will complete planning for an innovative hydrogen production facility that will allow Potomac Valley Transit Authority’s to transition their fleet from a carbon-based system to a clean hydrogen fuel. The Potomac Valley Transit Authority plans to engage the community college to provide training to enhance the skills of employees, contributing to overall workforce development. The project includes innovative technology and project delivery by implementing a hydrogen fuel plant responsible for producing the energy needed to fuel its fleet.

Additional RAISE examples of workforce development efforts and case studies. 

Relevant Resources 

• RAISE program website 
• RAISE 2023 Winners
• Raise Grant Fact Sheets 

Agency: Office of the Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as part of IRA

Amount: FY 2023 is $3.353 billion

NOFO: FY23 RCN Grant Program

Focus :The purposes of the RCN Program are 1) to advance community-centered transportation connection projects, with a priority for projects that benefit disadvantaged communities (See Section H.1. Definitions), that improve access to daily needs such as jobs, education, healthcare, food, nature, and recreation, and foster equitable development and restoration, and 2) to provide technical assistance to further these goals. The RCN Program provides funding for three types of grants: Community Planning Grants, Capital Construction Grants, and Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants.

Eligible Entities

For 2023, RCP Community Planning Grants, eligible applicants were as follows: 

• State; a unit of local government
• Federally recognized Tribal government
• Metropolitan planning organization (MPO) 
• Nonprofit organization; or a transit district, authority, or public benefit corporation may be eligible as a unit of local government if it was created under local law, including transit authorities operated by units of local government. 

For RCP Capital Construction Grants, eligible applicants are:

• The Facility Owner or a partnership between the Facility Owner and any eligible RCP Community Planning Grant applicant, where the Facility Owner serves as the lead applicant. 

High Level Process

• Eligible entities were required to submit applications by 11:59 PM EDT on September 28, 2023 to DOT. Funding will be awarded as a grant.
• For subsequent rounds, funding will shift back to the original RCP programming used in 2022 and prior. 2024 rounds have not yet been announced. 

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

• Priorities:
•  Workforce Development, Job Quality, and Wealth Creation: The Department intends to use the RCN Program to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and training and placement programs, especially registered apprenticeships, in project planning stages, consistent with Executive Order 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). 

• Allowable planning activities: 
• Associated needs such as locally driven land use and zoning reform, transit-oriented development, housing supply, in particular location-efficient affordable housing, managing gentrification and neighborhood change, proposed project impact mitigation, green and open space, local history and culture, access and mobility barriers, jobs and workforce, or other necessary planning activities as put forth by the applicant that do not result in construction. 

• Merit Criteria: 
• This section should describe how the project addresses each of the merit criteria: Equity and Environmental Justice; Access; Facility Suitability; Community Engagement, and Community-based Stewardship, Management, and Partnerships; Equitable Development; Climate and Environment; and Workforce Development and Economic Opportunity.

• Partnership: 
  • Workforce Development and Economic Opportunity DOT will rate proposals on how they address the following: 
    • Local inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship such as the utilization of disadvantaged business enterprises, minority-owned and women-owned businesses, or 8(a) firms. 
    • In addition to the above, Capital Construction Grant applications and Regional Partnerships Challenge Grant applications with construction activities should also address labor considerations by describing how the grant will support and use. 
    • Good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union, the incorporation of strong labor standards, pro-active anti-discrimination and anti-harassment plans, project labor agreements, workplace rights notices, training and placement programs, and local hiring and procurement preferences, particularly for underrepresented workers and individuals with convictions.
    • High-quality workforce development programs with supportive services to train, place, and retain workers, especially joint-labor management training partnerships and registered apprenticeships. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Use the funding to expand public transportation services, taking into consideration the location of social services and workforce development resources. Leverage newly expanded infrastructure as a supportive service for training programs. 
• Work with disadvantaged communities, through listening and engagement sessions, to design pathways programs into projects that remove, retrofit, or replace transportation barriers like highways or railways that divide communities through apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships. 

Examples

• Haverhill, MA: This planning project is a strategic and collaborative initiative to address infrastructure barriers created by 1960s and ’70s-era “Urban Renewal” efforts. This project will formally launch the planning process to remove these barriers and increase mobility and access for historically disadvantaged neighborhoods. The project will also create new opportunities for developing affordable and workforce housing while fostering transit oriented development.
• Tampa, FL: The project will lower an interchange ramp to street level, restoring neighborhood connectivity eroded by I-275. The project will also provide new bicycle and pedestrian routes and establish a Community Advisory Committee to provide input, feedback, and help guide the equitable implementation of the project. It will also create workforce training opportunities through a 12% apprenticeship requirement employment rate for the project. 
• Cambridge, MA: This project will plan and design an accessible, elevated, pedestrian and bicycle crossing of the Fitchburg Commuter rail line in North Cambridge. The planned bicycle and pedestrian bridge project will not only create dedicated, safe access from the Rindge Avenue neighborhood to Danehy Park, but will also create safer and more direct access to Fresh Pond Mall, which provides access to fresh groceries, clothing and other retail options, job opportunities and workforce training.
• California: The “Green Zone Access and Equity Regional Planning Project” will advance planning, engineering, design and project development activities to address barrier transportation facilities in ten federally designated disadvantaged communities that are (1) locally prioritized for infill development and (2) share the challenge of high volume, autocentric facilities that bisect existing neighborhoods and limit both economic and transportation mobility. SACOG will also partner with Valley Vision — the region’s workforce intermediary — to establish career pathways for vulnerable community members into jobs that will be created during the implementation of the projects planned with DOT NAE grant funds. (Note that the NAE portion of this grant will not be returning in 2024.)

Relevant Resources

• Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant Program | US Department of Transportation

Agency: Office of the Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation

Amount: Up to $1,256,687,000 for FY 2024 

NOFO: FY23 SS4A Funding

Focus: The SS4A program provides funding for two main types of grants: Planning and Demonstration Grants for comprehensive safety action plans, including supplemental safety planning, and/or safety demonstration activities; and Implementation Grants. The purpose of SS4A grants is to improve roadway safety by significantly reducing or eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries through safety action plan development and refinement and implementation focused on all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, motorists, personal conveyance and micro mobility users, and commercial vehicle operators. The program provides funding to develop the tools to help strengthen a community’s approach to roadway safety and save lives and is designed to meet the needs of diverse local, Tribal, and regional communities that differ dramatically in size, location, and experience administering federal funding. 

Eligible Entities

• Metropolitan planning organizations; 
• Political subdivisions of a state or territory (e.g., cities, towns, counties); 
• Federally recognized Tribal governments; and 
• A multijurisdictional group of entities described in any of the aforementioned types of entities. 

High Level Process 

• Eligible entities can apply only for the Planning and Demonstration Grant or an Implementation Grant, not both. 
• Eligible entities applying for Implementation Grant must submit application by 5 PM (EDT) on Thursday, May 16, 2024. 
• Eligible entities may submit a pre-application that consists of a Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet to determine an applicant’s eligibility before April 17, 2024. 
• Eligible entities applying for Planning and Demonstration Grant have three deadlines:
• Thursday, April 4, 2024, 5 PM (EDT)
• Thursday, May 16, 2024, 5 PM (EDT)
• Thursday, August 29, 2024, 5 PM (EDT) 
• Eligible entities are awarded funding. Funds will be awarded as a grant. 

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information 

The Department seeks to fund projects that advance the Departmental priorities of safety, climate and sustainability, equity, and workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation as described in the DOT Strategic Plan, the DOT Research, Development and Technology Strategic Plan, and in executive orders. See Section E of this NOFO for safety, climate, equity, and workforce-related selection criteria, and Section F for related award administration requirements. 

• Workforce 
  • For skilled construction labor needed on the project, incorporate strong labor standards (e.g., wages and benefits at or above prevailing; use of project labor agreements, registered apprenticeship programs). 
  • For non-construction work on the project, commit to supporting training opportunities as part of the project, including pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship readiness programs and youth service, with a description of how training and job opportunities on the project will lead into registered apprenticeship or good-paying jobs. 
  • Track and publish aggregate workforce data, including information on demonstrating that employment opportunities are available to historically underserved workers in the community. 
  • Include local inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship such as utilization of disadvantaged business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or 8(a) firms. 

• Labor and Workforce 
  • Each applicant selected for SS4A grant funding must demonstrate, to the full extent possible consistent with the law, an effort to create good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and incorporation of high labor standards. To the extent that applicants have not sufficiently considered job quality and labor rights in their planning, as determined by the Department of Labor, the applicants will be required to do so before receiving funds, consistent with Executive Order 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). 
  • “The Department intends to use the SS4A program to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and training and placement programs, especially registered apprenticeships, in project planning stages, consistent with Executive Order 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). The Department also intends to use the SS4A program to support wealth creation, consistent with the Department’s Equity Action Plan through the inclusion of local inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship such as the utilization of disadvantaged business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or 8(a) firms.” 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Launch marketing campaigns, based on labor market data, to raise awareness of roadway safety jobs and the opportunities that exist within the community for today’s workers.
• Partner with the K–12 system to develop teacher training to expose educators to new career pathways, competencies and opportunities related to roadway safety measures.

Examples

• Fontana, CA: This project will provide bike lanes, ADA-compliant sidewalks, ADA ramps, and updated signage to enable residents of underserved communities to reach public transit safely by including four public bus stops within the project limits with direct connections to neighboring cities, county services, a Metrolink station, Ontario International Airport, Cal State San Bernardino, a community college, and numerous service providers, schools, homes, and job centers throughout the region. 
• Detroit, MI: Was awarded funds to improve safety and bus stop accessibility at 56 high-crash intersections served by the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) bus service. The City also requests funding to conduct a Level of Traffic Stress analysis to address gaps in bicyclist/pedestrian networks, update the City’s Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP), and pilot training for DDOT bus operators to ensure safe operations around people walking and biking.
• Western Connecticut: The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) is awarded funds for multiple safety improvements at 93 locations throughout Western Connecticut to address an increase in traffic crashes. They will implement pedestrian and vehicular safety measures in underserved communities, which make up more than 40 percent of project locations.

Relevant Resources

• Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program | US Department of Transportation
• Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) 2024 Planning and Demonstration Grants 

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Amount: Approximately $40 million 

NOFO: 2023 SWIFR Grant Program for Political Subdivisions of States and Territories (RFA)

Focus: The SWIFR grants will assist local waste management authorities by supporting improvements to local post-consumer materials management, including municipal recycling programs, and assisting local waste management authorities in making improvements to local waste management systems.

Eligible Entities: Applications will be accepted from political subdivisions of states and territories. The EPA considers counties, cities, towns, parishes, and similar units of governments that have executive and legislative functions to be political subdivisions of states. Other entities (e.g., state, territorial institutions of higher education, special districts or housing authorities) must provide documentation that the state in which they are located considers these entities to be a political subdivision of the state.

High Level Process

• Eligible entities must submit an informal Notice of Intent to Apply by December 15, 2022 to SWIFR@epa.gov 
• Eligible entities must apply by January 16, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. (EST)
• Eligible entities are encouraged to use EPA’s FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan to support their application. 
• Eligible entities will be notified via email if they were awarded funds by April 2023. Additional forms may need to be submitted prior to execution of cooperative agreement. 
• Awardees will receive funding by October 2023. 

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

• Guidance: The EPA encourages project labor agreements (i.e., pre-hire collective bargaining agreements between unions and contractors that govern terms and conditions of employment for all workers on a construction project); the use of an appropriately trained workforce (i.e., through registered apprenticeships and other joint labor-management training programs that serve all workers, particularly those historically excluded); the use of an appropriately credentialed workforce (i.e., requirements for appropriate and relevant professional training, certification, and licensure); and neutrality with respect to union organizing (i.e., BIL funds should not support or oppose union organizing). 
• Costs: Participant support costs such as non-employee training stipends and travel

What Role Can Cities Play

• Create transitional jobs such as sorting, processing, and machinery operation within recycling facilities for underserved populations such as justice-involved individuals and newly arrived immigrants where processes can be systematized, reducing the need for high levels of English.
• Use advanced manufacturing sector partnerships to examine the need for and available individuals with skills in automated sorting systems and advanced processing technologies.

Examples 

• Connecticut: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection project will:
  • Develop and implement a new data storage system to track the flow of municipal solid waste, recyclables, and construction and demolition waste materials.
  • Evaluate the efficacy of recently implemented municipal diversion programs through targeted waste characterizations.
  • Support solid waste and recycling training program for state and local staff.
• Vermont: Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation will:
  • Produce a statewide Vermont waste composition study.
  • Conduct a systems analysis of the beverage container redemption recycling system and its impacts on the broader recycling system.
  • Conduct outreach for school waste reduction through support of the School Materials Management Institute. The program will train school staff, including teachers, administrators, and food service staff.
  • Host a statewide conference that focuses on reuse and reduction methods.

Relevant Resources

• EPA Solicitation Clauses | US EPA
• EPA’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law website

Agency: Department of Transportation

Amount: $100 million appropriated annually for fiscal years (FY) 2022–2026.

NOFO: FY23 SMART Grants Program

Focus: The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications for Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping grants. Funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 SMART Grants Program are to be awarded on a competitive basis to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart city or community technologies and systems to improve transportation efficiency and safety.

Eligible Entities 

Eligible applicants for the SMART Grants Program include states, a political subdivision of a State, a federally recognized Tribal government, a public transit agency or authority, a public toll authority, a metropolitan planning organization or a group of two or more eligible entities listed above in Section C.1 applying through a single lead applicant (Group Application). 

• Eligible entities may choose to collaborate across different regions or geographies on similar projects that are submitted in separate applications by each eligible applicant. This type of application is separate from a “Group Application,” which is listed above as eligible applicant type “G”. Collaborative projects may address similar problems and with similar technologies or potentially share common resources such as partnerships with industry, nonprofits, academic institutions, or community foundations. 

High Level Process

• Below outlines the current process with the next round of grants anticipated in spring 2024: 
  • Eligible entities submit applications to DOT for State 1 Planning Grant by 5 PM ET on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. Separate SMART Grants Program NOFOs will solicit applications for Stage 2 grants in calendar year 2024, as well as for additional Stage 1 grants in calendar year 2024. 
  • Only recipients of Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping Grants will be eligible for Stage 2 Implementation Grants. 
  • A list of selected award recipients will be posted via SMART Grants Program | US Department of Transportation. DOT will contact awardees and initiate negotiation of a grant agreement. 
  • Funding will be awarded as a grant agreement. Each applicant selected for a Stage 1 grant must submit an evaluation and data management plan no later than three months after receiving the grant. Each applicant selected for a Stage 1 grant must submit an implementation report.
• Stage 1 planning and prototyping grant recipients are expected to build internal buy-in and partnerships with stakeholders to refine and prototype their concepts and report on results. At the conclusion of Stage 1, grant awardees should have gathered enough information to create a comprehensive implementation plan or make an informed decision not to proceed with the concept.
• Stage 2 implementation grants will provide funding for Stage 1 projects and are expected to result in a scaled-up demonstration of the concept, integrating it with the existing transportation system, and refining it so that it can be replicated by others. 

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information

SMART emphasizes a qualified workforce as a program objective and outcome. It also prioritizes projects that demonstrate efforts to promote a skilled workforce, especially for minority or disadvantaged groups.  

• Grant Priorities and Policy Priorities: Promoting a skilled and inclusive workforce. Highlights workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation stating the Department intends to use the SMART Grants program to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and training and placement programs, especially registered apprenticeships, in project planning stages, consistent with Executive Order 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). The Department also intends to use the SMART Grants program to support wealth creation, consistent with the Department’s Equity Action Plan through the inclusion of local inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship such as the utilization of disadvantaged business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or 8(a) firms. The SMART Grants Program will support and grow a strong, diverse, and local workforce. 
• Criteria: Includes Project Readiness Selection Criteria which indicates the application identifies the necessary planning and engagement activities that, as projects are fully implemented during Stage 2, will ensure high-quality job creation by supporting good-paying jobs with a free and fair choice to join a union, incorporating strong labor standards (e.g., wages and benefits at or above prevailing, use of project labor agreements, registered apprenticeship programs, pre-apprenticeships tied to registered apprenticeships, etc.), and/or providing workforce opportunities for historically underrepresented groups (e.g., workforce development program, etc.). 
• Partnership:
•  Project Readiness Criterion #2: Community Engagement and Partnerships 
• — The application shows plans to build sustainable partnerships across sectors and governmental jurisdictions and collaborate with industry, academia, and nonprofits, such as community, workforce development, and labor organizations. 

The Grant Application Checklist also provides additional details. 

What Role Can Cities Play

• Develop targeted outreach programs aimed at underrepresented groups in the transportation sector, such as women or BIPOC individuals to build a more diverse talent pool. 
• Consider funding scholarships or providing educational stipends for qualified individuals pursuing careers relevant to the SMART project to incentivize people to join the workforce and fill crucial roles.
• Create public and private sector internship opportunities so youth and young adults can gain practical experience working on SMART projects, preparing them for future careers in the transportation sector.

Examples

• Shreveport, LA: The SporTran EMPOWER Project will focus on developing curriculum and training for AV and EV transit operations in partnership with labor and workforce development partners, and engage community organizations. The $995,400 received will be used to develop local skills in emerging tech such as AVs and charging infrastructure and contribute new economic paths for the region through workforce development and community college partnerships. 
• Alaska: Department of Transportation & Public Facilities uses drone technology to conduct infrastructure inspections and gather situational awareness data essential to rural Alaska’s way of life on snow, ice, and overland trails, partnering with Alaska Native and Rural Villages. In early 2024, drone pilot training was conducted in Bethel, Alaska, focused on drone operations and GIS, thermal, and environmental condition data collection. This is part of an initiative to develop an apprenticeship program with local IBEW chapters.
• Cambria County, PA: The project includes a partnership between aviation leaders and first responders, coordinated by the Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission, to pilot the delivery of emergency medical services to citizens in advance of human responders arriving on site. The project will help inform the further integration of emerging technologies into educational curriculum in the K–12 system and can assist in positioning Pennsylvania as a leader in aerial mobility training and application.

Relevant Resources

• SMART program website 
• FAQ 
• SMART 2023 Awards
• Reference illustrative case uses for examples of projects that could be eligible for the SMART Grants.
• Fiscal Year 2022 Planning and Prototyping Grants by State 

Agency: U.S. Department of Energy, Grid Deployment Office

Amount: Up to $2.5 billion

NOFO: 2024 Transmission Facilitation Program (RFP)

Focus: To construct new or replace existing electric transmission lines and to support connection of micro grids in Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories. A good fit for projects that are near shovel-ready.

Eligible Entities

• Transmission developers projects must meet at least one of the following criteria:
• New corridor: 1,000 MW or more
• Existing corridor: Upgrade or new line,  500 MW or more
• Microgrid: Project connects an isolated microgrid to an existing transmission, transportation, or telecommunications infrastructure corridor located in Alaska, Hawaii, or a U.S. Territory

High Level Process

• Eligible entities must apply by 5 pm EST on March 11, 2024 (Part 1); 6 weeks after invite release (estimated end of May) (Part 2).
• Eligible entities must submit an application to transmissionfacilitation@hq.doe.gov.
• DOE expects to make selections of applications that proceed into due diligence and contract negotiations by October 2024 if they were awarded funds.
• Funds will be awarded as a facilitation agreement.

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes

Workforce Development Information 

• Goals: DOE is seeking to support projects that cost-effectively increase resiliency and reliability, increase interregional transmission capacity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote equitable economic growth and energy justice. It is critical that the projects not only contribute to these goals, but also: (1) support the IIJA objectives to invest in America’s workforce by including specific elements to accelerate job growth and job quality; and (2) advance the administration’s equity, environmental, and energy justice priorities, including the Justice40 Initiative. In addition, it is necessary that projects supported by these investments will have minimal negative impacts on communities with environmental justice concerns. 
• Requirements: Part 1 of the application requires applicants to provide a project paper that describes the project’s eligibility, business case, and potential for furthering the goals of TFP by: using advanced technology that enhances the capacity, resiliency, or reliability of an electric power transmission system; improving reliability and resilience of an electric power transmission system; increasing interregional transfer capacity to support strong and equitable economic growth, or; contributing to national or subnational goals to lower electricity sector greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, applicants must describe how their projects will not only contribute to the country’s energy technology and climate goals, but also meet the following four priority goals: (1) support meaningful community and labor engagement; (2) invest in the American workforce; (3) advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; and (4) contribute to the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities (the Justice40 Initiative).
• Guidance: Community engagement will be central to the successful implementation of all phases of the TFP. Projects funded through the BIL provisions will include Equity, Environmental and Energy Justice principles and priorities. Equity requires the consideration of existing barriers underserved and underrepresented individuals and communities face when accessing federal resources. Environmental and energy justice principles include procedural justice, distributive justice, recognition justice, and restorative justice. In keeping with the administration’s goals, and as an agency whose mission includes strengthening our country’s energy prosperity, DOE intends to use this program to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union, the incorporation of strong labor standards, and high-road workforce development, especially registered apprenticeship and quality pre-apprenticeship. This program will also support the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to provide 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to Disadvantaged Communities. 
• Guidance: Community workforce agreement negotiation – Access to jobs and business opportunities for local residents Investments in training for local workers (e.g., support of registered apprenticeship programs, contributions to training institutions to assist in the provision of workforce training). Commitments to make investments in subsidies for caregiving (e.g., childcare subsidies) and/or in transportation services for workers to access the worksite. Commitments to pay upper quintile wages and benefits for the industry. Broad recruitment activities, particularly with strategies to reach underrepresented demographic groups 
• Evaluation: The proposed project is likely to: (1) support meaningful community and labor engagement; (2) result in investments in America’s workforce; (3) advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA); and (4) contribute to the goal that 40% of the overall benefits 7% of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities (the Justice40 Initiative), as demonstrated in the Applicant’s submitted Community Benefits Plan.

What Role Can Cities Play

• Include workforce development stipulations as part of the loan agreements to require contractors or subcontractors working on the project to provide on-the-job training opportunities or partner with local educational institutions for relevant skills training programs.
• Consider partnering with existing workforce development programs or educational institutions to create targeted training programs focused on the skills required for transmission system construction and maintenance using the TFP loan funds to subsidize or incentivize participation in these programs.

Examples

• Cross-Tie 500kV Transmission Line (Nevada, Utah): Cross-Tie is a proposed 214-mile, 500 kV transmission line connecting existing transmission systems in Utah and Nevada to increase transmission capacity, improve grid reliability and resilience, and relieve congestion on other key transmission lines. The project is expected to generate more than 2,400 direct full-time equivalent jobs, with an additional 1,700 jobs in related and supporting industries such as finance, insurance, transportation and hospitality.
• Southline Transmission Project (Arizona, New Mexico): Southline is a proposed 175-mile, 748 MW transmission line from Hidalgo County, NM to Pima County, AZ that will help unlock renewable energy development in southern New Mexico. This project will also create hundreds of high-quality construction-related jobs during its construction stage tapping into an expanded workforce.
• Twin States Clean Energy Link (New Hampshire, Vermont): Twin States is a proposed 1,200 MW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) bidirectional line that will expand the capacity of the New England electric grid and improve its resiliency, reliability, and efficiency by providing access to clean firm energy supplies in Quebec, Canada. This project will benefit the State of Vermont with an average of 290 new jobs per year during project construction.

Relevant Resources

• Notice of Intent and Request for Information regarding establishment of a Transmission Facilitation program
• Transmission Facilitation Program Frequently Asked Questions | Department of Energy
• Transmission Facilitation Program | Department of Energy

Agency: U.S. Department of Energy

Amount: Varies by program

NOFO: Weatherization Assistance Program (FOA) 

Focus: Program reduces energy costs for low-income households by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes, while ensuring their health and safety. The program supports 8,500 jobs and provides weatherization services to approximately 35,000 homes every year using DOE funds.

Eligible Entities: States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and tribes.

High Level Process

• Primarily annual formula grants with a subset of WAP Enhancement and Innovation grants that include the Enhancement & Innovation grant, the Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers grant, and the Community 
• The most recent round of WAP Enhancement and Innovation grants closed January 5, 2024. The next round has not yet been announced. 
• Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) are released by the Department of Energy on the Clean Energy Infrastructure eXCHANGE and contain instructions for E&I applications.
• WAP prioritizes low-income households, often at or below 200% of the poverty line.

Dedicated Workforce Funding: No

Workforce Development Is an Allowable Activity: Yes, for WAP Enhancement and Innovation

Workforce Development Information

General WAP funding: Includes provision of Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) funding to Weatherization Grantees (states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and tribes). A maximum of 20% of the annual appropriation may be allocated to T&TA.

WAP Enhancement and Innovation:

• Overview – This FOA seeks applications to expand the impact of DOE’s existing residential weatherization programs by utilizing leveraged resources and enhanced community partnerships to perform deep energy retrofits of low-income residential buildings and empower local community representation within the energy workforce. BIL will invest $25 million to support the DOE Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Enhancement & Innovation program. Through partnerships and leveraging of the DOE WAP and other funding sources, these awards will enable deep energy retrofits of low-income housing in three topic areas: 1) multifamily housing; 2) single family and manufactured housing; and 3) workforce development.
• Purpose – This FOA and any related activities will seek to encourage meaningful engagement and participation of workforce organizations, including labor unions, as well as underserved communities. DOE seeks proposals that drive innovative approaches to program coordination and service delivery, while fostering the collaboration of dynamic and diverse teams. 
• Topics – This FOA will enable partnerships and leveraging of DOE WAP and other funding sources, to expand deep energy retrofits of low-income housing in three topic areas: 1) multifamily housing; 2) single family and manufactured housing; and 3) workforce development. Within the three topic areas, applicants will address any of the following activities and initiatives including, but not limited to, major home repairs, decarbonization and renewable energy, enhanced indoor air quality and healthy homes, and new methods to streamline DOE WAP implementation. Applicants shall select one topic area and provide a detailed explanation of the proposed project objectives, technical scope, tasks (including a comprehensive list of activities for each task), milestones, project management, and verification processes. Applicants must explore the delivery of DOE WAP services using place-based initiatives,including the planning and implementation of deep energy retrofits and incorporating workforce development initiatives in these projects and communities. 
• Applicants must describe how competitive wages will be determined for weatherization workers, including reference to the current local living wage, and whether workers will have a free and fair chance to join a union. Applicants must also outline how they will work to place WAP trainees into jobs, particularly in the home performance or clean energy industries. 
• Individuals shall be trained to implement the DOE WAP in accordance with all applicable federal rules and DOE procedures. Training shall be aligned with WAP installation standards and program requirements including energy auditing guidelines, the Standard Work Specifications, and Quality Control Inspections.
  • Training shall follow the Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals for Energy Auditor (EA) and Quality Control Inspector (QCI)
  • Regarding the provision of comprehensive training, coordination with a registered apprenticeship or an IREC-accredited training provider is preferred but not required. Applicants must provide the qualifications, accreditation, and expertise for proposed training providers when describing the project team. 
• Applicants may propose workforce development initiatives and activities including but not limited to: 
  • Addressing and enhancing outreach, recruitment, hiring, and retention processes;
  • Shortening the administrative time from initial recruitment to field readiness of new hires; 
  • Building a pipeline of fully trained workers to higher-level careers within and beyond the WAP network; 
  • Developing registered job-readiness, pre-apprenticeship, and apprenticeship programs for individuals to gain necessary skills before entering the home performance or clean energy industries; Including support services that reduce barriers to employment of underrepresented populations (e.g., mentoring, counseling, coaching, stipends for trainees [wages, childcare, transportation]); 
  • Developing formal partnerships with workforce development organizations, labor organizations and unions, trade schools, technical colleges, local agencies, and community-based organizations); and 
  • Establishing partnerships with existing training providers, labor, and community-based organizations to improve and expand existing workforce training programs in lieu of building new training center facilities. 
• Requirements: Applicants are required to succinctly address how the proposed project will address barriers and challenges experienced in providing deep energy retrofits and/or workforce development. Applicants should explicitly identify the targeted objectives and metrics and the factors required to achieve those metrics, including the ways in which the proposed project location, skilled workforce, community benefits, etc., will contribute to the success of the project. Applicants must address project risk management, including a plan for securing a qualified workforce and mitigating risks to project performance including but not limited to community or labor disputes. 
• Community Benefits Plan: Invest in America’s workforce: A well-qualified, skilled, and trained workforce is necessary to ensure project stability, continuity, and success, and to meet program goals. High-quality jobs are critical to attracting and retaining the qualified workforce required. The Plan should describe how the project will address a challenge facing the weatherization workforce, describe the anticipated impacts of the project on the workforce, and outline the applicant’s approach to investing in workforce education and training of both new and incumbent workers – including through quality pre-apprenticeships and registered apprenticeship programs and ensuring jobs are of sufficient quality to attract and retain skilled workers in the broader industry. 
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA): To build a clean and equitable energy economy, it is important that there are opportunities for people of all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic backgrounds, sexual orientation, gender identity, persons with disabilities, and those re-entering the workforce from incarceration. This section of the plan must demonstrate how DEIA is incorporated into the project. The plan must identify the specific action(s) the applicant would undertake that integrates into the project goal(s). Submitting an institutional DEIA plan without specific integration into the project will be deemed insufficient. 
• For construction: DOE strongly encourages the use of project labor agreements (PLAs) in connection with construction projects. A PLA is a pre-hire agreement between a private entity (or entities) and a labor organization (or organizations) representing individuals who will be working on the construction project. Applicants that commit to using best-practice project labor agreements will generally be likely to produce a construction workforce plan that meets the criteria in this FOA. By contrast, applicants that do not commit to using a PLA will be required to submit workforce continuity plans and show that they have taken other measures to reduce the risk of delays in project delivery. 

What Role Can Cities Play

Weatherization Enhancement and Innovation grants provide an opportunity to secure additional funds for workforce development in WAP, specifically recruitment, training and retention of individuals and contractors historically underrepresented in the home performance industry. This training can be targeted to individuals enrolled in other city programs to create strong pathways from both the K–12 system and existing workforce development programs. 

Examples

• Toledo, OH: Neighborhood Housing Services, in conjunction with the city and other partners, is establishing the Toledo Healthy Homes Training Center (THHTC) to serve as a regional hub for training providers and contractors in northern Ohio. 
• Oklahoma, New Mexico and Wisconsin: The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, in collaboration with Building Performance Institute, Energy Smart Academy at Santa Fe Community College, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Providence, Julius Edu, National Association for State Community Services Programs, New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, Slipstream, State of Wisconsin Department of Administration (Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources), State of Oklahoma Department of Commerce, and Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies launched a pilot program in 3 states to develop, pilot, and nationally deploy a data-driven outreach campaign for Subgrantees throughout the U.S. focused on hiring a new generation of WAP workers, including women, opportunity youth, minorities, and other underrepresented groups.

See other examples of prior awardees here.

Relevant Resources

• Weatherization Resource Hub
• Weatherization Notices and MOUs
• WAP Procurement Step by Step Process
• FACT Sheet
• WAP Annual Funding by State
• MAP of 2022 Awards
• WAP 2023 Enhancement and Innovation Awards