Equity Workforce Planning and Capacity Grants

Planning grants are intended for those applicants that need to solidify the elements of the program design prior to implementation, with the overall goal being to design a program plan ready for implementation and potentially ready for submission to a funding solicitation at MassCEC or elsewhere. For example, a planning grantee may plan on developing an accelerator program that will help MWBE contractors who are aspiring energy efficiency and renewable energy business owners training individuals to enter the building retrofit space but may need time to identify partners for recruitment and professional services, clarify the curricular resources, and map out the implementation schedule. 

Capacity grants are intended for those applicants ready to implement but that need to build up in-house capabilities prior to launch or for those applicants that do not need full implementation funds to achieve success with the proposed program. For example, a post-secondary institution has an existing HVAC training program, but to add heat pump training, further curriculum needs to be developed and some extra training-specific equipment needs to be obtained; this is not a wholescale new program or major expansion of an existing program but is instead a beneficial incremental expansion achievable with capacity funding.
 

Based on research and prior experience during previous rounds of MassCEC Planning Grants, MassCEC intends to award $30,000 or less for the majority of Planning Grants selected for an award but may entertain awarding up to $50,000 to applications requesting an amount higher than $30,000 and providing sufficient and compelling reasons for the increased funding need. Substantiation of this additional need should be reflected throughout the application form and in the detailed budget submitted on the MassCEC budget template. Examples of reasonable additional need include an ambitious plan to develop partnerships with numerous final MOUs across a large region and a plan to design a completely new curriculum through a partner and CBO-engaged planning process.

The budget requires detailed explanations of the staff/subcontractor roles and the usage of the programmatic expenses and must be submitted using the MassCEC budget template. Budgets that do not provide rates per unit (e.g., fee per hour for subcontractors, stipend per participant, etc.) and instead only list lump sums against each line-item may be scored less favorably or be considered incomplete. If possible, verified cost estimates from vendors should be submitted for the budget to ensure funding can sustain your program if you receive the award. Separate detailed budgets submitted using the MassCEC template must be submitted for any vendor or subcontractor receiving thirty (30) percent or more of the proposed program budget. MassCEC may require awardees to substantiate that no conflict of interest exists between the applicant and proposed vendors or subcontractors and provide information about the vendor selection process.

Yes, applicants may apply for additional funds from MassCEC, so long as the proposed project is separate and distinct from the projects funded via prior support. In addition, grantees that previously received an equity workforce planning grant may apply for a capacity grant to execute preliminary work related to future implementation.

Yes, applicants can apply for more than one strand described in the Planning and Capacity Grants RFP. The application responses will need to clearly reflect the proposed program strand(s).

The term lengths listed in the solicitation document are maximum term limits for a grant agreement. If work can be completed, with all deliverables reasonably fulfilled, in a more expedited timeline, that is acceptable and actually may be encouraged to allow for a grantee to apply for needed implementation funding timely in sync with those solicitations.

Applicants can use these funds to hire a consultant for targeted tasks such as identifying and approaching relevant employers about their hiring needs, researching available training curricula, etc. However, MassCEC primarily intends for funding to build grantee capacity in-house, so this funding is not intended to be used exclusively to hire outside consultants. In addition, this funding can not be used to pay for costs associated with preparing this proposal or activities that occurred before or following the term of the grant. A separate detailed budget for the consultant must be submitted in the application packet using a copy of the MassCEC budget template if the consultant will be receiving thirty (30) percent or more of the proposed program budget. MassCEC may require awardees to substantiate that no conflict of interest exists between the applicant and proposed subcontractor and provide information about the consultant selection process.

Applicants can apply for the planning/capacity grants with or without fully established partnerships before applying. If you are applying without fully established partnerships, it will be viewed more favorably if the proposal includes details on the specific partnerships you are trying to form to develop or expand your workforce development program. For example, your proposal can include information that you are seeking to form partnerships with CBOs to develop a comprehensive referral system for participants’ support services with a suggested list of target partner organizations.

Funds cannot be used to lease or purchase venue space or equipment for general operating purposes. However, funds can be used to lease or purchase venue space or equipment specifically designated for direct programmatic use. For example, paying for an organization’s regular rent is not acceptable. However, paying the cost of an agreement with a building trades training organization to use their lab space to train participants may be acceptable.

Computer hardware/software are eligible uses of funding so long as those items are primarily used for programmatic purposes. However, budget submissions with a majority request for hardware/software will be viewed as less favorable by the review committee. MassCEC is anticipating releasing funding dedicated to equipment/software expenses for workforce development programs.

Yes, low-income communities are considered as a targeted population in this solicitation.

Applicants will be notified of awards approximately 6-8 weeks after the priority review dates listed in the Funding Schedule but may be subject to a extended review process if interviews are necessary. The publication of the awardees and their projects will depend on the press release announcement plans set by EEA and the Governor’s office.

Yes, for profit entities such as for-profit training companies, trade associations, unions, or other coalitions of businesses and clean energy businesses are eligible to apply for the Planning and Capacity Grants as lead applicants. In addition, for profit entities are also eligible to receive funds as partners of another Lead Applicant with detailed information on their role listed on the budget during the Planning/Capacity grant process.

Writing quality and style will not be an indicator of the overall score of your application. However, applications responses that clearly and accurately describe the Plan/Capacity building concept and meet the selection criteria will be scored more favorably by the review committee. Applications with missing answers or incomplete answers may be viewed as incomplete and not considered during scoring. Please refer to the RFP document for the Selection Criteria used for evaluation.

Applicants will receive feedback from MassCEC upon notification of the award results, whether or not an award is given to the applicant.

Each grantee will be assigned to a technical assistance (TA) provider who will advise them in the planning or capacity-building process to ensure that the deliverables and outcomes meet or exceed the expectations of the grant. Individual technical assistance sessions will be on an ongoing and as-needed basis as agreed upon between the TA provide and grantee. Grantees must also participate in small cohort sessions by participating in webinars to promote networking, share best practices, and strengthen their workforce development program design.  

If other funding sources are being used to cover the program costs, use the Matching column in the budget form to indicate which line items are being covered by other funding sources.