Technology Grant Program

The State of Oregon, acting by and through its Higher Education Coordinating Commission (“HECC”), is seeking applications awards grants to eligible entities that administer workforce programs in the technology sector.
Donor Name: Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC)
State: Oregon
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/31/2024
Size of the Grant: Not Available
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
Focus Areas
HECC will fund projects in the below identified focus areas.

Career Advancement

Education and training programs that address transferable technology skills and focus on upskilling and reskilling adult learners, dislocated workers, and individuals employed in high-tech or any other industry. Strategies may include but are not limited to acceleration strategies and models such as Credit for Prior Learning, Career Pathways, and Competency-Based Education.

Recruitment

Expanding education and training programs for transferable technology skills, which may include but is not limited to building awareness of technology occupations and careers and providing for high-tech career exploration.

Transferable technology skills may include but are not limited to:

Ability to integrate different operating systems (DevOps)
Cybersecurity, threat hunting, incidence response
Data analytics, back-end data
Engineering (hardware & software)
IT, enterprise application deployment
High level customer relationship management (CRM) understanding and other function/role-specific tech platforms
Instructional designers
Systems engineering
User experience (UX) design and research

Projects in either focus area must prioritize equitable program participation by individuals from the following priority populations identified:

Communities of color;
Women;
Low-income communities;
Rural and frontier communities;
Veterans;
Persons with disabilities;
Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals;
Members of Oregon’s nine federally recognized Indian tribes;
Individuals who disproportionately experience discrimination in employment on the basis of age; and
Individuals who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Performance Period 
July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026
Allowable uses of funds
Allowable Costs may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Providing direct benefits to individuals, which may include:

Paid work experience, including stipends and wages,
Tuition and fee assistance for workforce programs, and
Wraparound workforce development services. Wraparound workforce development services provide supports for individuals participating in workforce programs and may include but are not limited to childcare, transportation, mental health services, housing support, job-related materials and supplies, books, tuition, and other services designed to help individuals attain employment and progress along career pathways.

Creating and expanding education and training programs, including developing culturally and linguistically specific career pathways for obtaining certificates, credentials, or degrees recognized by targeted industry sectors.

Expanding the capacity of organizations to provide workforce development services, including:
Hiring staff or contracting for services;
Developing strategies around workforce programs including program development
Purchasing equipment, technology, or other supplies;
Paying for administrative costs; and
Any other activities necessary to increase the organization’s capacity to provide workforce programs that advance economic mobility, educational attainment, and career advancement in the healthcare sector.

Eligibility Criteria
In order to receive an award under this RFA, an Applicant must:

Be a workforce service provider or a community-based organization that administers workforce programs in the manufacturing sector;

ORS 660.400(1)(c) defines workforce service providers as including:

nonprofit and public workforce education, training, and career services providers; and
governmental entities that provide workforce development services.

Defines community-based organizations to include:

nonprofit organizations that are representative of a particular community or specific segments of a community and are located within or in close proximity to the community they serve; and
culturally-specific organizations.

Have an active registration in SAM.Gov and have a Unique Entity Identifier.
Have an Employer ID Number with the Internal Revenue Service.
Have and maintain a current business registration with the Oregon Secretary of State.

For more information, visit HECC.