Available Grant Opportunities
Below are the current notice of grant availabilities and recent grant awardee announcements. Throughout the commonwealth and the nation there are numerous grant and financial aid resources available that can assist individuals and organizations in meeting their goals. The grants and financial aid information below is provided with the intent to help you begin the search, not an all-inclusive link to resources that may be available. Learn more about L&I's other grants and related programs.
Near Completer Demonstration Project
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announces the availability of approximately $7 million of funding for a Dislocated Worker Near Completer Demonstration Project (NCDP) Grant. Governor Wolf established several key initiatives to strengthen the commonwealth’s workforce by strategically investing in the education and training needs of Pennsylvania’s citizens for careers in high priority occupations (HPOs) (please refer to page 8 for full HPO list) by setting a goal that 60% of residents will have obtained a postsecondary certificate or degree by 2025.
Although several initiatives remain ongoing to strengthen the commonwealth’s workforce, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted three major shifts in the workforce landscape: 1) the arrival of the future of work and the shift in jobs due to automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence; 2) the displacement of workers from major industries in Pennsylvania, such as retail, hospitality and tourism and 3) the need to foster new and innovative strategies to quickly reskill or upskill displaced workers so that they may re-enter employment with the skills necessary to effectively compete for and connect to jobs that pay family sustaining wages.
As a result, L&I is endeavoring to further expand education and career placement activities related to credential attainment and employment in HPOs at family sustaining wages of $15.00 per hour or higher through this notice of grant availability (NGA).
Near Completer Demonstration Project NGA and Grant Materials:
Schools-to-Work Program Grant (STWP)
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announces the availability of approximately $2.6M of funding for Schools-to-Work Program (STWP) Grant award(s). L&I will be establishing a Schools-to-Work Program through the competitive award of a grant(s) to a sponsor(s) in partnership with schools in the commonwealth to support the establishment or enhancement of a workforce development partnership between schools, employers, organizations, or associations to create employment and training pathways. The project proposal must create learning opportunities for participating students, including classroom training, workplace visits, internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, employment opportunities, special education transition, Capstone Cooperative Education, job shadowing or externships.
School-to-Work Grant NGA and Grant Materials
Digital Literacy and Workforce Development Grant (DLWDG)
The PA Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announces the availability of $4.5 million in funding for the Digital Literacy and Workforce Development Grant (DLWDG) to include awards of up to $45,000. This grant opportunity will be focused on supporting effective programs that enhance foundational digital literacy skills for job seekers in their local community.
Applications are due by 4 p.m. EST on Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Digital Literacy and Workforce Development Grant NGA and Grant Materials
Business Education Partnership Grant
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announces the availability of $300,000.00 of funding for the Business Education Partnership (BEP) Grant.
The purpose of this Notice of Grant Availability (NGA) is to solicit grant applications to implement BEP programs that allow school districts to collaborate with local business and local workforce development boards (LWDB) to educate students (future workforce), parents and guardians regarding high-priority occupations and career pathways. These programs create partnerships with educators, employers, parents/guardians and students to provide career-related experiences, exposure to different workplace opportunities and knowledge regarding opportunities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Applications are due by 4 p.m. EST on Friday, October 30, 2020
Direct Care Worker Training Grant
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announces the availability of $4,000,000.00 of funding for the Direct Care Workers Training Grant.
This Notice of Grant Availability (NGA) seeks applications to support initiatives that provide effective training programs that improve the quality of care produced by direct care workers and creating, organizing, and/or building career pathways that pay family-sustaining wages for direct care workers.
Applications are due by 4 p.m. EST on Friday, October 2, 2020
Direct Care Workers Training Grant NGA and Grant Materials
Veterans Employment Program Grant
The PA Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announces the availability of $200,000.00 of funding for one award for the Veterans Employment Program (VEP) Grant.
This Notice of Grant Availability (NGA) seeks applications to support initiatives in Delaware County that provide employment services for Veterans.
Applications are due by 4 p.m. EST on Wednesday, October 30, 2020
Veteran Employment Grant NGA and Grant Materials
Strategic Innovation Grant (SIG)
UPDATE: Due to the complexity of obtaining Letters of Support during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Labor & Industry is waiving the requirement for Letters of Support. In addition, this requirement will be removed from the scoring criteria. All awarded projects will be required to submit Letters of Support at a later date. Please note that the application due date of Friday, March 27, 2020, 4 p.m. EST, has not changed.
The PA Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announces the availability of approximately $4 million of funding for Strategic Innovation Grant (SIG) awards of up to $300,000 each. This Notice of Grant Availability (NGA) seeks applications to support initiatives across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PA) that innovatively and creatively address barriers to employment facing Pennsylvanians.
The Governor’s Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center identified several such barriers in its recent
annual report.
Application is due by 4 p.m. EST on Friday, March 27.
SIG Grant NGA and Grant Materials
Recent Grant Awards:
Next Generation Industry Partnership Grants
PAsmart Next Generation grants provide funds to support the development, launch, implementation, and technical assistance of Next Gen IPs that are demand-driven in addressing the workforce, economic development, and educational needs of Pennsylvania industries.
2020 PAsmart Next Generation Industry Partnership Grant Awardees
PAsmart Apprenticeship Grants
PAsmart Apprenticeship grant funds will be used to build a diverse talent pipeline into the building and construction trades; expand registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship in non-traditional industries with an emphasis on health care, manufacturing, and information technology; and to support registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship through ambassador networks across the commonwealth.
2020 PAsmart Apprenticeship Grant Awardees
State/Local Internship Program (SLIP)
Pennsylvania’s workforce development system must work with employers and other stakeholders to connect young people with high-quality work-based learning opportunities, paid work experiences and career pathways. Last year’s State/Local Internship Program, or SLIP, placed 1,130 16- to 24-year-old youth and young adults into internships at 657 worksites in a variety of industries.