Equity Workforce Planning and Capacity Grants

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Workforce Planning and Capacity Grants program supports organizations in expanding equitable access to career and business opportunities in climate-critical fields. The state's clean energy workforce must grow by 38% or more than 38,000 workers by 2030 to meet climate goals, with many positions offering median wages exceeding $36 per hour in 2023 dollars. Planning grants up to $50,000 are available for up to 12 months to develop a program plan ready for implementation. Capacity grants up to $150,000 are available for up to two years to support capacity building activities including expanding staff, solidifying partnerships, developing curriculum, and expanding supportive services.

The program has three funding strands: Strand A focuses on career pathway training leading to employment in climate-critical priority occupations; Strand B addresses clean energy career awareness, career exploration, and preparedness for adult learners and job seekers; and Strand C supports development of minority and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) support programs. Target populations include MWBEs, fossil fuel workers, and individuals from Environmental Justice neighborhoods, low-income communities, or federally recognized or state-acknowledged tribes.

Key dates include a pre-application webinar held on October 23, 2024, with ongoing office hours available. Priority review deadlines are December 6, 2024 (for review the week of December 9, 2024) and February 28, 2025 (for review the week of March 3, 2025). The final application deadline is May 19, 2025 at 11:59 PM. Applicants will be notified of awards approximately 6-8 weeks after submission. Beyond direct funding, grantees receive technical assistance from MassCEC including targeted networking, partnership expansion, program design support, and effective practice guidance.

Eligible lead applicants include community-based organizations, post-secondary educational institutions, K-12 school districts, vocational schools, for-profit entities, federally recognized and state-acknowledged tribes, workforce development organizations, and Massachusetts Workforce Investment Boards. Single organizations or partnerships may apply. Previously funded applicants may apply if the proposed work is sufficiently distinct. Grantees who received equity workforce planning grants may apply for capacity grants to execute preliminary work for future implementation.