Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants (MA)

Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants (MA) is sponsored by Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants | MassCEC Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants MassCEC / Workforce / Funding / Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants The Challenge: Create Opportunities for Underserved Individuals in the Clean Energy Workforce Those most impacted by climate change are typically excluded from opportunities to obtain employment in the clean energy sector due to systemic barriers and lack of training opportunities that lead to career pathways.

The Massachusetts clean energy workforce needs to grow by 34%, or more than 34,000 workers by 2030 to meet the state’s aggressive decarbonization goals. Many of these jobs will be living-wage jobs, with median wages of over $36 per hour (in 2023 dollars).

As gaps in the workforce for climate-critical sectors grow, engaging underrepresented populations will be crucial, not just for equity, but also to ensure that the Commonwealth has the workforce needed to meet clean energy goals. About Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants MassCEC's Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants increase access to modern, relevant training.

The grants provide up to $1,200,000 across two to three years in direct funding and technical assistance to organizations that can build and scale career pathways leading to climate-critical priority occupations for individuals from Environmental Justice (EJ) neighborhoods or low-income communities, members of Federally recognized and State-acknowledged Tribes, Fossil Fuel Workers, and other underrepresented populations.

Applicants may apply for one or more of the following strands: Strand A: Career Pathway Training Leading to Employment in Climate-Critical Priority Occupations Strand B: Clean Energy Pipeline Training Preparedness for Adult Learners and Job Seekers; including pre-apprenticeship preparedness programming Strand C: Planning or Capacity Project Leading to Implementation or Pilot of a career pathway training or pipeline training preparedness program.

Successful applicants will propose projects that address barriers faced by these populations, demonstrate a high level of employer engagement and leverage of existing workforce development systems, and lead to high-quality careers in climate-critical occupations. Applicants applying for multiple strands must submit a separate application for each strand.

Career Pathway Training: up to $1,200,000 Career Preparedness: up to $600,000 Planning or Capacity: up to $50,000 or $150,000 Single organizations or partnerships are eligible to apply. Partnerships are strongly encouraged and may be looked upon more favorably to the extent that they can provide a range of expertise and experience to deliver a comprehensive proposal. One party should take on the role of Lead Applicant.

The following entities are eligible to serve as a Lead Applicant: Community-based entities (often referred to as community-based organizations) such as community action partnerships, environmental justice organizations, neighborhood revitalization organizations, advocacy groups, affordable housing providers, affordable housing developers, and non-profits.

Post-secondary educational institutions, K-12 School Districts, Comprehensive and Vocational High Schools, Middle schools, and Vocational Schools offering a Career Technical Initiative evening program. Trade and Labor entities, trade associations, unions, or other coalitions of businesses and clean energy businesses, Non-Profit and For-Profit . Federally Recognized and State-Acknowledged Tribes.

Workforce Development Organizations, Non-Profit and For-Profit. Massachusetts Workforce Investment Boards and Career Centers/Mass Hire Organizations. Applicants are also eligible to apply for MassCEC’s other workforce development grants and programs, as long as those applications seek support for separate and distinct efforts from those described in this application.

For full eligibility requirements and other Program details, please refer to the Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grant Request for Proposals (RFP). Proposals will be accepted via the new Workforce Development Data Solutions Platform on a rolling basis with a final deadline of 11:59 pm ET May 18, 2026.

Applicants not currently ready for program implementation should consider Strand C of the Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants to prepare for implementation funding. Questions Due to MassCEC via WFDTraining@masscec.

com Questions with Answers Posted to MassCEC Website October 30, 2025, at 1:30 PM Pre-Application Office Hours December 10, 2025 by 11:59 pm February 18, 2026 by 11:59 pm Interviews of Applicants (as needed) Applications submitted by December 10, 2025 will be notified March 2026 Applications submitted by February 18, 2026 will be notified May 2026 Applications submitted by May 18, 2026 will be notified August 2026 RFP - Equity Workforce Training Implementation FY26 Review the Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants (RFP), including all forms and attachments.

Attend the pre-application webinar and/or office hours. Contact MassCEC with questions via WFDtraining@masscec. com.

Visit: https://www. workforce. cleanenergyeducation.

org/home a) For Current / Existing MassCEC Workforce Grantees iii.) If you did not receive credentials, contact WFDtraining@masscec. com i.)

Click "Get Started" or "Register" ii.)

Create an account and organizational profile following the directions on screen a) Once logged in, navigate to "Open RFPs" b) Select the funding opportunity you wish to apply for and click "View Details" Complete and Submit Your Application a) While you are in the RFP Details page, make sure to scroll down to the "Application Materials" and download all of them, as you will need to fill out some of these documents (i.e. Program Narrative and Scope of Work document, or Program Budget document) and upload them as attachments while completing your application b) Click "Apply" and start filling in the application form c) Complete all required application fields d) Upload any required attachments when prompted e) The application form does not save automatically, so please make sure to save your progress often f) If you select Save and Close, your application will be saved in Draft form.

In order to access it, navigate back to the relevant RFP page and click "Continue my Application" Submit your application directly through the platform a) Once you have filled in all relevant fields and uploaded all relevant attachments, click "Submit" to submit your finalized application Applications must be received through the new Workforce Data Solutions Platform by 11:59 pm (EST) on May 18, 2026.

If Applicants anticipate needing technical support, questions must be submitted by 4:00 PM EST on the deadline date to ensure a response can be provided. While every effort will be made to resolve issues in a timely manner, there is no guarantee all technical issues will be resolved by 5PM on the deadline date.

/p> For questions, technical issues, or if submitting an application through the Workforce Data Solutions Platform creates an undue hardship, please contact WFDtraining@masscec. com to request accommodations.

ET26 Program Narrative and Scope of Work Strand A Attachment 3 - Proposed Program Budget and Schedule Attachment 4 - Sample Milestone and Cost Reimbursement Grant Agreements Attachment 5 - Training Progress Report Template Attachment 6- Decision Chart ET26 Program Narrative and Scope of Work Strand B Attachment 3 - Proposed Program Budget and Schedule Attachment 4 - Sample Milestone and Cost Reimbursement Grant Agreements Attachment 5 - Training Progress Report Template Attachment 6- Decision Chart ET26 Program Narrative and Scope of Work Strand C Attachment 3 - Proposed Program Budget and Schedule Attachment 4 - Sample Milestone and Cost Reimbursement Grant Agreements Attachment 5 - Training Progress Report Template Attachment 6- Decision Chart Submit application via the Workforce Data Solutions Platform Pre-Application Office Hours MassCEC hosts office hours (one‑hour blocks) to answer questions about all open Workforce Development grant opportunities.

During the Tuesday, May 12th office hours, staff will also be available to answer questions related to submitting applications through the new Data Solutions Platform. Join anytime during the one‑hour block! Applications Through the new MassCEC Workforce Data Solutions Platform Office Hours: Tuesday, May 12th, 1:00 PM .

Thursday, 5/14 at 5:30 PM April 2026 Update: Please note that the application process has changed so that applicants must submit their application through MassCEC's Workforce Data Solutions Platform. Please see Application Process steps for more information. Pre-Application Webinar Slides Recent Training & Implementation Grant Projects Which Program is Right for Us?

MassCEC has two open solicitations that provide funding and technical assistance to develop and scale workforce training programs for climate-critical occupations: 1) Climate-Critical Training, Equipment, and Infrastructure , and 2) Equity Workforce Training Implementation, (this page).

While both solicitations support training programs, The Equity Training Implementation Grants look to support individuals from priority populations with career pathway training or exploration while Climate-Critical Training, Equipment, and Infrastructure Grants look to support Massachusetts based residents with career pathway training or incumbent workers with upskilling.

See the table below to decide which funding opportunity suits your program goals.

Climate-Critical Workforce Training Equity Workforce Training December 10, 2025 by 11:59 pm February 18, 2026 by 11:59 pm December 10, 2025 by 11:59 pm February 18, 2026 by 11:59 pm Support Massachusetts residents with career pathway training or incumbent workers with upskilling Support individuals from priority populations with career pathway training or exploration Match Requirement (Equipment and Infrastructure only) EJ Neighborhood, Federally Recognized and State Acknowledge Tribes, Fossil Fuel Workers, Low/moderate income Populations, Massachusetts Residents EJ Neighborhood, Federally Recognized and State Acknowledge Tribes, Fossil Fuel Workers, Low/moderate income Populations MassCEC will look favorably on applications that propose data-driven approaches and leverage pre-existing resources from the robust workforce development and clean energy sectors in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Applicants are advised to use Powering the Future: A Massachusetts Clean Energy Workforce Needs Assessment along with the following additional resources to inform their applications: US Bureau of Labor Statistics MA Department of Economic Research Labor Market Information MIT Living Wage Calculator Environmental Justice Populations in MA MassCEC Massachusetts Clean Energy Workforce Needs Assessment MassCEC Clean Energy Industry Report MassCEC Clean Energy Careers Training and Education Directory Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2050 Mass Save Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Workforce Development Needs Assessment MassHire Regional Workforce Skills Planning Initiative MassHire State Workforce Board MA Division of Apprentice Standards The Boston Foundation SkillWorks Project Catapult on next generation workforce development Frequently Asked Questions These FAQs were last updated on October 17, 2025.

Questions are accepted and answers will be posted on a rolling basis. Submit questions to WFDTraining@masscec. com 1.

How do I apply for the Equity Workforce Training Implementation RFP? As of April 2026, applicants must submit their application through MassCEC's Workforce Data Solutions Platform. To apply, follow the comprehensive instructions above.

For questions, technical issues, or if submitting an application creates an undue hardship, contact WFDtraining@masscec. com to request accommodations. 2.

Is there a template for an organizational budget? There is no template for an organizational budget. If your organization is applying, please provide a high-level overview of your operating budget, including projected revenue, expenses, and top-level categories.

Application Frequency and Eligibility 3. How often can my organization apply for funding? An organization may apply for funding as often as it chooses.

However, each application must describe a separate and distinct project, and the review committee will also assess organizational capacity. 4. Can my organization apply for multiple strands of funding in one Request for Proposals (RFP)?

An organization may apply for multiple strands of funding in one Request for Proposals (RFP). However, each strand requires the submission of a separate application packet, and each application must describe a separate and distinct program. 5.

What is the requirement to apply for Planning if an organization is only interested in Equity Training (ET) or Climate Critical Training (CCT) implementation grants? An organization does not need to apply for a Planning grant if it is only interested in Equity Training (ET) or Climate Critical Training (CCT) implementation grants. An organization may apply directly for implementation funding if its program is ready.

MassCEC may also award partial funds as a Planning grant if appropriate. 6. What is the difference between Planning and Capacity activities and Training and Implementation activities?

The primary difference between Planning and Capacity activities and Training and Implementation activities is that Planning and Capacity activities are designed for early-stage program design, whereas Training and Implementation activities are intended for applicants who are ready to deliver training at scale, with proven workforce pipelines, strong partnerships, and wraparound services. 7.

When should an organization request equipment funding through an Equity Capacity award versus through Climate Critical Strand C (equipment)? An organization should request equipment funding through an Equity Capacity award if the equipment constitutes only a small portion of a broader program development budget.

An organization should request funding through Climate Critical Strand C if the primary purpose of the award is to support major equipment purchases that are directly tied to training. Single-use items or giveaways are not eligible under Strand C and are considered supportive services instead. 8.

Are Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) required at application? Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) are not required as part of the application submission for Strand C applications. MOUs can be developed during the grant period.

9. Do Letters of Support (LoS) have a standard format? Letters of Support (LoS) do not have a required format, but they must be submitted on company letterhead.

10. Do participants and organizations need to be based in Massachusetts? Participants and organizations must be based in Massachusetts to be eligible for funding.

The Lead Applicant must be based in Massachusetts, although out-of-state partners are permitted if the funding directly benefits Massachusetts residents and organizations. 11. What Technical Assistance (TA) support does MassCEC provide?

MassCEC provides Technical Assistance (TA) that includes check-ins with staff and consultants, ongoing email support, recurring Roundtables, best practice briefings (BPBs), and two in-person convenings each year. Roundtables offer grantees the opportunity to share lessons learned and challenges, while BPBs provide structured guidance on program operations and compliance. 12.

How should my organization identify the correct funding for populations served? To identify the correct funding for the populations your organization serves, you should refer to Attachment 6 in the Equity Workforce Training Implementation RFP. This attachment outlines guidance to help determine the best fit for your program.

13. Are there priority deadlines? There are priority deadlines for ET26.

Proposal deadlines are November 14, 2025, January 30, 2026, and April 3, 2026. Earlier submissions are reviewed and awarded first, and funding is available until it is fully expended. 14.

What documentation is required if my organization recently became a nonprofit? If your organization recently became a nonprofit, you should submit proof of tax status or proof of eligibility to receive funds. Finalized documentation must be in place before contracting.

15. What level of detail is required in the budget? The level of detail required in the budget is as specific as possible.

Applicants should provide detailed cost information, since costs described in general or uncertain terms may weaken the application. Equipment purchases are permitted if they are justified in the budget narrative.

MassCEC / Workforce / Funding / Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants Climate-Critical Workforce Training, Equipment & Infrastructure Grants Career Pathway Training: $800,000 Climate-Critical Upskilling: $600,000 Equipment, Infrastructure and Training Ecosystem Support: $750,000 Capacity for Climate-Critical Educators and Trainers: $400,000 Clean Energy Internship Program for Employers High Performance Buildings Renewable Energy Generation $4,320/intern for Fall or Spring session; $8,640/intern for Summer session or for Construction, Installation, and Maintenance $150,000 (Implementation) $25,000 (in some cases up to $50,000) (Innovation and Capacity Building) Program Area High Performance Buildings Award Potential: $2.

5M total funding Application Deadline: May 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM Request for Qualifications: Technical Assistance for Green School Works Program Area High Performance Buildings Program Type Consulting/Services Application Deadline: August 26th, 2026 Program Area Clean Transportation, High Performance Buildings, Investments, Net Zero Grid, Offshore Wind, Corporate