The Equity Workforce Planning and Capacity Grants, administered by MassCEC, aim to expand access to climate-critical career opportunities in Massachusetts. The program supports organizations delivering career awareness, training, or business support to ensure that individuals from Environmental Justice (EJ) neighborhoods, low-income communities, Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs), fossil fuel workers, and federally recognized or state-acknowledged tribes can benefit from equitable access to the state's growing clean energy workforce. The program seeks to address the projected 38% growth in the clean energy workforce needed to meet Massachusetts' climate goals by 2030.

Grants offer up to $50,000 for a 12-month planning phase to develop an implementation-ready program plan or up to $150,000 for a two-year capacity-building phase to expand staffing, develop curricula, establish partnerships, or enhance supportive services for clean energy workforce programs. In addition to funding, grantees receive technical assistance from MassCEC to facilitate networking, partnership development, and program design.

Eligible projects may focus on career pathway training for climate-critical jobs, clean energy career awareness and preparedness, or the development of MWBE support programs in the clean energy sector. Single organizations or partnerships can apply, with one entity serving as the Lead Applicant. Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, educational institutions, workforce development entities, for-profit training companies, and tribes.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with priority deadlines of December 6, 2024, and February 28, 2025. The final deadline for submission is May 19, 2025. Proposals should be submitted via email to rfpworkforce@masscec.com, following the guidelines outlined in the RFP.