Grants

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.

Statewide Layoff Aversion Plan (SLAP) Grant

The PA Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) is seeking applications for a grant to provide layoff aversion services to stabilize, restructure, turn-around or attract buyers for at risk businesses. The amount of the grant will not exceed $1.5 Million per program year. This grant will be awarded for a one-year period and provides an option to extend for a second and third year.

• SLAP Notice of Grant Availability

PAsmart Grants

Governor Tom Wolf secured $30 million for PAsmart last year and $40 million this year to expand classroom instruction and training. These grants aim improve access to science, technology, engineering, and math education for all students. PAsmart also focuses on increasing computer science (CS) education to prepare Pennsylvania’s workforce.

These grants will support schools, students, workers and businesses across the state. PAsmart will help Pennsylvanians develop the skills they need for the job they want. It will also support businesses through creating a skilled workforce to hire. Learn more about the PAsmart Grants and previous awardees.

PAsmart Apprenticeship Grant Availability

This NGA will provide funds to provide hands-on opportunities for workers to learn skills while earning a paycheck. 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.

• Apprenticeship Notice of Grant Availability
  
• Apprenticeship Project Summary Cover Page (Appendix B)
• Apprenticeship PAsmart Application Form (Appendix C)
• Apprenticeship Budget Form (Excel) (Appendix D)
• Apprenticeship Budget Justification Instructions (Appendix E)
  
• Apprenticeship Grant FAQs
  
• Bidders Webinar PowerPoint Presentation
  

PAsmart Next Generation Industry Partnership Grant Availability

This NGA will 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. Applicants may apply for funds to support the convening and implementation of Next Gen IPs.

• Next Generation Industry Partnership Notice of Grant Availability
• Next Generation Industry Partnership PAsmart Application
• Next Generation Industry Partnership Budget Forms
• Next Generation Industry Partnership Membership Form
• Next Generation Industry Partnership Training Plans
• Next Generation Industry Partnership FAQs
• Bidders Webinar Recording
• Bidders Webinar PowerPoint Presentation

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. As a result of the overwhelming response to SLIP 2019, the PA Department Labor & Industry (L&I) is making approximately $3.5 million of WIOA Statewide Set-Aside Funding available as a demonstration project to support summer internship programming in 2020.

• State/Local Internship Program Request for Proposal
• SLIP Pre-Evaluation Required Elements
• SLIP 2020 Planning Package (Narratives and Budget)

Business Education Partnership Grant

The purpose of this Notice of Grant Availability (NGA) is to solicit grant applications to implement Business-Education Partnerships programs that provide opportunities to connect local businesses with school districts to promote job opportunities and career pathways. These programs increase awareness of in-demand technical careers for students, parents, guardians, teachers and school faculty.

• Business Education Partnership Grant Notice of Grant Availability
• Business Education Partnership Grant Application
• Business Education Partnership Examples

Teacher in the Workplace Grants

The Teacher in the Workplace (TIW) program provides the opportunity for eligible organizations in partnership with their Local Workforce Development Board to develop and/or implement TIW programs that connect the classroom to the workplace for K-postsecondary educators in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the TIW program, grants and projects. Please note: All Targeted applicants will apply using PDE's eGrants system.

• Teacher in the Workplace Grant Notice of Grant Availability
• Teacher in the Workplace Grant Application Form  (Advancing)
• Teacher in the Workplace Grant Application  (Targeted)
• Teacher in the Workplace Technical Assistance
  

Youth Reentry Demonstration Project

The purpose of the Request for Proposal, or RFP, is to competitively award funding to local workforce development boards, or LWDBs, to support expanded youth reentry programs for young people, 18-24 years old. The goal of this initiative is to engage youth, who were incarcerated or were subjected to the justice system, in a career pathway leading to postsecondary education, advanced training, and/or meaningful employment. Additionally, these programs will feature close working relationships between LWDBs, the PA CareerLink® system, county and/or state justice systems, community or faith-based organizations, the federal bonding program, career and technical education centers, Job Corps, and institutions of higher education.

• Youth Reentry Demonstration Project Request for Proposal
• Youth Reentry Demonstration Project Application Form
• Youth Reentry Demonstration Project Budget Form
• Youth Reentry Demonstration Project Budget Justification
• Youth Reentry Demonstration Project Pre-Evaluation Form
• Youth Reentry Demonstration Project Quarterly Performance Report Form

Economic Transition

The purpose of the Request for Proposal (RFP) is to competitively award funding to Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs) to train dislocated workers in High Priority Occupations and provide the necessary supportive services to complete training under the Trade and Economic Transition National Dislocated Worker Grant (Economic Transition). This funding will focus on dislocated workers with entry-level skills or those who require minimal training for re-entry into the workforce.

• Economic Transition Request for Proposal
• Economic Transition Application Form
• Economic Transition Budget Form
• Economic Transition Budget Justification

State Apprenticeship Expansion Grant

The purpose of this Notice of Grant Availability (NGA) is to solicit grant applications to help develop building trades/skilled trade apprenticeship programs specific to the energy sector (i.e. natural gas extraction and related activities) in regions of the commonwealth that have demonstrated a need for employees skilled in this industry.

• State Apprenticeship Expansion Grant Notice of Grant Availability
• State Apprenticeship Expansion Grant Application Form

Grant Awardees

• 2019/20 Business-Education Partnership Grant Awardees
• 2019 Youth Reentry Grant Awardees
• 2019 PAsmart Regional Apprenticeship & Next Generation Industry Partnership Grant Awardees
• 2018/19 Business Education Partnership (BEP) Grant Awardees
• 2017/18 Teacher-in-the-Workplace Grant Awards
• 2017/18 Tech Grant Awardees
• 2017/18 Strategic Innovation Grant Awardees
  

Related Programs

The PA Department of Community & Economic Development is currently offering an apprenticeship grant. The Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship Grant Program is a statewide program which offers assistance to registered apprenticeship programs. The program’s goal is to increase apprenticeship availability to Pennsylvania employers to assist them with their talent recruitment and development.

WEDnetPA
Essential skills and technical skills training for new and existing employees, targeting manufacturing and technology companies.

Industry Partnerships (IPs)
Consortium-based, employer-driven worker training in high priority occupations (HPOs)

Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
The WOTC provides a private-for-profit employer with tax savings as an incentive to hire job seekers with barriers to employment.