Green Workforce Training Grant Challenge Phase 2

WELCOME: New Jersey Green Workforce Training Grant Challenge Application

Description of Program:

New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) seeks to strengthen the state’s workforce to ensure all New Jerseyans can benefit from the economic and workforce opportunities presented by the State’s burgeoning green economy. The New Jersey Green Workforce Training Grant Challenge Phase 2 (“Grant Challenge”) is a competitive funding opportunity that will award grants to selected applicants that will aide in implementing innovative workforce training and skills programs focused on strengthening and diversifying New Jersey’s green economy talent pipeline. The Grant Challenge is for entities that can provide skill development, workforce training, job placement, and other related services to implement workforce development initiatives in green economy sectors. The grant program will prioritize support of training programs that connect participants with industry recognized credentials and near-term job opportunities. Applicants will also be expected to prioritize New Jersey’s Overburdened Communities (as defined by NJ’s Environmental Justice Law, N.J.S.A. 13:1D-157) and provide wraparound or other supportive services to foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and retention in the green economy workforce. Grants will be awarded to proposals that achieve the highest overall scores based on the scoring criteria detailed within these instructions.

Information about the Grant Challenge is available at Green Workforce Grant - NJEDA  

Eligibility Requirements

The Grant Challenge will be open to entities who can design and execute workforce and skills training programs. Eligible applicants can include:  

• Community-based organizations
• Workforce training organizations
• Labor unions
• Technical high schools
• County colleges
• Non-profit organizations
• Regional workforce development boards
• Private companies
• Other related entities

NJEDA will enter into a grant agreement solely with the applicant, and the applicant will be held responsible for complying with the terms of the grant. Applicants who are not a 501(c)(3) Community-Based Organization (CBO) must include, at minimum, one CBO partner in their application. (see Application CBO Eligibility Flow Chart) For the purposes of this Grant Challenge, a CBO is defined as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with demonstrated experience serving a NJ Overburdened Community (OBC) as defined by NJ’s Environmental Justice Law. The following documentation must be submitted for 1) the CBO that is the applicant, or 2) the CBO Partner of the non-CBO applicant:

1. Current IRS Form 990 to provide status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
2. Letter detailing their experience serving a NJ OBC as defined by NJ’s Environmental Justice Law.

3. Answer the following questions in the Application which includes the following: (1) the NJ OBC community(ies) that the CBO serves; (2) the specific services that the CBO provides the community(ies) that they serve; and (3) providing the CBO’s website address.
   
   The applicant is responsible for transferring the allocated budget to the CBO for their assigned tasks for the proposed program.

• For the purposes of this Grant Challenge, a CBO is defined as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with demonstrated experience serving a NJ Overburdened Community as defined by NJ’s Environmental Justice Law that provides direct services or supports to a specific geographic NJ community(ies) or specific segments of a New Jersey community(ies). For the purposes of this Grant Challenge, government entities, K-12 schools, and institutions of higher learning do not qualify as CBOs. However, these entities may be the applicant or an additional collaborator on the applicant team. Entities that are not 501(c)(3) organizations do not qualify as a CBO for the purposes of this grant challenge even if they serve a New Jersey Overburdened Community. Per the NJ Division of Taxation, a 501(c)(3) Organization refers to a nonprofit organization that has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) stating that the organization is exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The term also may refer to a church or ministry that may qualify for an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, even though it does not intend to apply for an IRS determination.

• NJ’s Environmental Justice Law at N.J.S.A 13:1D-158 defines overburdened communities as any census block group, as determined in accordance with the most recent United States Census in which: 1) at least 35 percent of the households qualify as low-income households; 2) at least 40 percent of residents identify as minority or as members of a State recognized tribal community; or 3) at least 40 percent of the households have limited English proficiency. NJDEP provides the public a list and visualizations of OBC locations throughout the state at https://dep.nj.gov/ej/communities/.  

Applicants may, but are not required to, collaborate with additional entities, including for-profit or non-profit entities of all types, to design and implement the training program as needed.

In addition to the eligibility parameters already stated above, the primary applicant must also be in substantial good standing with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (“NJDOL”) and NJ Department of Environmental Protection (“NJDEP”) to participate in the program.

A valid tax clearance certificate is required at the time of grant award approval, grant agreement execution, and at the time of each disbursement of funds.