The Climate-Critical Workforce Training, Equipment, and Infrastructure Grants aim to address Massachusetts' need for a 34% increase in clean energy workforce by 2030, equating to over 34,000 new workers. The grants provide up to $800,000 over one to two years in funding and technical assistance to organizations that can develop and scale career pathways, training, and upskilling initiatives for climate-critical jobs. Eligible applicants can apply under one or more of three strands: career pathway training, upskilling for current workers, or equipment and training ecosystem support. Each strand emphasizes employer engagement, workforce system integration, and pathways to high-quality careers.

The grants are designed to support Massachusetts residents in entering or advancing in priority occupations within the clean energy sector. Organizations can propose programs that create new training opportunities or strengthen existing initiatives to meet workforce demands. Applicants targeting the training and equipment strand are encouraged to integrate modern equipment and tools relevant to industry needs. Additionally, applications that propose comprehensive partnerships and leverage existing systems are given preference.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations, such as community-based entities, educational institutions, workforce development organizations, and for-profit companies involved in clean energy or related fields. Partnerships are strongly encouraged and may be viewed favorably during the selection process. Single organizations or consortia may serve as lead applicants, with specific eligibility details outlined in the Request for Proposals (RFP).

The application process involves submitting strand-specific materials via email by the deadlines of January 24, 2025, or May 2, 2025. Required documents include authorization forms, application forms, detailed budgets, and progress report templates. Pre-application resources, including webinars, office hours, and an extensive FAQ section, are available to assist applicants. Applicants can also access data and insights from workforce and clean energy sector reports to inform their proposals.

Evaluation criteria will likely consider the alignment of proposed projects with the grant’s objectives, the strength of partnerships, the ability to meet workforce needs, and the feasibility of implementation within the given timeline and budget. Award notifications are expected in March 2025 for January submissions and July 2025 for May submissions. Projects not funded during a cycle may be resubmitted in subsequent cycles.

Key dates include the RFP release on November 15, 2024, a pre-application webinar on December 6, 2024, and rolling updates to FAQs and resources through April 2025. Pre-application office hours are scheduled at various times to address applicant questions. Applicants are encouraged to explore other MassCEC funding opportunities if their proposed efforts are not a fit for this solicitation.