Grants Workforce Development Programs Can Tap Into

There are several types of grants that workforce development programs can tap into to support their initiatives. Here are a few examples:

1. Federal grants: The U.S. Department of Labor offers various grants for workforce development programs, such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grants, Apprenticeship Grants, and Job Corps grants.
2. State grants: Many states offer grants to workforce development programs, such as the Virginia Career and Technical Education Competitive Innovative Program Equipment Grants.
3. Foundation grants: Private foundations such as the Ford Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Walton Family Foundation offer grants for workforce development programs.
4. Corporate grants: Many corporations offer grants to support workforce development initiatives. For example, Toyota and Motorola both offer grants to community colleges and workforce development programs that focus on training for in-demand jobs.
5. Non-profit grants: Non-profit organizations such as the Statoil West Virginia Community Fund offer grants for workforce development programs.
6. Community Development Block Grants (CDBG): The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides CDBG grants to state and local governments for community development projects, including workforce development initiatives.
7. Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA): The TAA program provides financial assistance to workers who have lost their jobs due to foreign trade. This assistance can include funding for training and job search assistance.

It’s important to research and identify the grants that align with your program’s goals and objectives and to carefully review the grant requirements and application process — all before you commit to applying.

Here’s a shortlist of some of our favorites that many of our customers have been fortunate enough to take advantage of over the years.

Competitive Innovative Program Equipment Grants for High-Demand and Fast-Growth Industry Sectors

Popular among many of our customers in Virginia, the goal of this grant program is to provide students with classroom experiences that translate to the 21st century workforce. K-12 public institutions in Virginia are eligible. While the application states that priority is given to Governor’s STEM Academies, we’ve found that other schools have just a good a chance as any to receive funding.

There are 16 grants available at $37,500 per grant and the deadline to apply is typically in February every year. You can find the list of this year’s awardees here.

Motorola Solutions Foundation Grants

Provide vocational skills, scholarships, certifications and workforce placement opportunities in engineering, information technology and data science. Motorola Solutions seeks to benefit the communities where it operates. Within the area Amtek serves, this includes the Baltimore area.

Amounts awarded are up to $50,000. The deadline to apply is April 19, 2023 (but you need to submit an inquiry form in early February).

Appalachian Regional Commission POWER Grants

The Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative targets federal resources to help communities and regions that have been affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries due to the changing economics of America’s energy production.

Applicants must serve and benefit a portion of the Appalachian Region. In the areas Amtek serves, that includes:

• Maryland: Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties
• Virginia: Alleghany, Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Henry, Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Rockbridge, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe counties
• West Virginia: Barbour, Berkeley, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mineral, Mingo, Monongalia, Monroe, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood, and Wyoming counties

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American Welding Society Foundation Welding Workforce Grants

These grants are available for secondary and post-secondary education/training institutions to enhance and improve welding programs resulting in an increase in the number of welding graduates and/or the number of graduates successfully placed in welding or welding-related jobs.

Awarded amounts go up to $25,000 and the deadline to apply is April 1, 2023.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc. 

In West Virginia, TMMWV offers grants for local educators with special consideration given to STEM programs that continue to develop the future workforce. The following West Virginia counties are eligible: Putnam (priority), Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Mason County. Statewide Programs in West Virginia will be considered, but only on a limited basis

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There are two deadlines a year — May 1 (recipients are notified in July) and November 1 (recipients are notified in February).

The Statoil West Virginia Community Fund Grants

The Statoil West Virginia Community Fund was created by Statoil to direct philanthropic resources to the needs of the communities where Statoil has operated acreage in the Ohio Valley, West Virginia . Non-profit organizations in or serving Wetzel and Tyler counties may apply.

Typical grant awards will range from $500 to $5,000. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

You can read about these grant opportunities – and more grants — in detail in our 2023 Grant Guide here.