[Mwa] State's new CBO/Older Worker Grant Program

[MassWorkForce@aol.com]

The state’s new “Community-Based Organizations & Older Worker Education and 
Training Initiative Application for Funding” was released yesterday, August 
19th.   You can get a copy by going to www.commcorp.org.   

This new state funding comes from the legislature’s Emerging Technology bill –
 and more specifically from an amendment submitted by Senator Wilkerson and 
supported by Massachusetts Workforce Alliance (MWA).   Certainly it is MWA’s 
hope that this new funding will provide a starting point for expanded resources 
for education, training, and employment programs – particularly programs which 
serve people facing the greatest barriers to labor market entry and mobility. 


It is important for bidders to remember that the rules, timing, and content 
of this opportunity are different and separate from the BEST III RFP.   

Please note that:

Funded projects will assist unemployed people and low wage workers to get 
(better) jobs, to get on a career path, and to improve wages to a level 
sufficient to support a family.   The initiative targets unemployed and low-wage 
workers.

Program curriculum “should include” education, training, and job placement 
services.

Up to $425,000 is available to support Older Worker programs.   Up to 
$850,000 is available to support workforce development programs at community based 
nonprofit organizations.   (These figures are lower than figures previously 
cited, since the state has allocated 15% of total funds to cover their 
administrative costs.)   Maximum grants will be $200,000.

Only community-based non-profit organizations may apply for these funds.

Bidders’ administrative costs are limited to 10%.   In addition, some funds –
 particularly in the first two months – may be spent on program design and 
development.

Matching funds of at least 30% are required.   Preference will be given to 
bidders that (1) provide services in economic opportunity areas [Appendix A], 
(2) partner with employers, (3) partner with WIBs, (4) partner with One-Stop 
Career Centers, and (5) provide matching funds greater than 30%.

A “Technical Assistance Bidders’ Conference” will be scheduled soon and a 
notice will be posted at www.commcorp.org. 

Proposals must be received at Commonwealth Corporation by noon on Thursday, 
October 14th.   Successful bidders will be notified by November 5, 2004 and 
contracts will conclude no later than June 30, 2006.

MWA regrets that there is only limited funding available to CBOs to do this 
work.   On the other hand, this is a new and unique opportunity for CBOs doing 
important work with low income communities across Massachusetts.   We urge 
organizations across the state and programs serving different populations to step 
forward and submit innovative program proposals!
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.literacytent.org/pipermail/mwa/attachments/20040820/1c7bb7de/attachment.htm