Career Pathways Innovation Fund
Grant: Career Pathways Innovation Fund
Agency: U.S. Department of Labor
Division: Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
Deadline: March 31, 2011
Description: The Employment and Training Administration announces the availability of up to $122 million in grant funds for the Career Pathways Innovation Fund (CPIF). This program supports community colleges, with a particular focus on career pathway programs implemented by community colleges in partnership with other organizations in the community.
Career pathway programs are clear sequences of coursework and credentials that help individuals of varying skill levels earn credentials valued by employers, enter rewarding careers in in-demand and emerging industries and occupation and advance to increasingly higher levels of education and employment. Career pathways are an approach to linking and coordinating education and training services in ways that enable students to attain required credentials and which support students in obtaining employment.
The overarching goals for projects funded under this grant program are to:
- Increase the number of individuals who earn credentials that enable them to compete for employment in in-demand and emerging industries and occupations.
- Lead to employment for program participants.
- Articulate and ease academic and employment transition, through the implementation of articulation agreements and other activities, for students of different skill levels and at varying academic levels.
- Establish multiple entry and exit points for students along the post-secondary education continuum.
- Create systemic change that will last beyond the grant period by establishing partnerships, agreements, processes and programs that better connect the education, training, workforce and necessary supportive services.
The U.S. Department of Labor is particularly interested in supporting broad-based partnerships of institutions that will collaborate to develop career pathway programs and implement systemic change across a number of institutions, adopting the career pathway models on a larger scale.
There are at least four types of career pathway programs that applicants may choose to include as project components:
- Secondary education to postsecondary education.
- Pre-college “bridge programs that provide low-skilled adults with entry points to postsecondary education and training.
- Postsecondary education for individuals to upgrade their skills and attain industry-recognized credentials that are in-demand in the local labor market.
- Community college postsecondary education to four-year colleges and universities.
Fit for Public Broadcasting: While public media stations are not eligible to apply as lead applicants to this program, they have expertise that makes them valuable partners to eligible larger organizations that are encouraged to maintain community-based partnerships. Public media stations with experience in creating and implementing adult education and job training curricula should discuss partnership opportunities with local community colleges or the public workforce investment system. Creating successful career pathways requires the work of many organizations in a community, and public media stations are an important partner.
Eligibility: Local Workforce Investment Boards, community or technical colleges, community college districts and state community college systems are eligible to apply. All eligible lead applicants must submit an application on behalf of a partnership that includes at least one organization from each of the following partner categories: the public workforce investment system, community or technical colleges, public and/or private employers. In addition to the required partners, applicants are encouraged to include other partnerships, including those with nonprofit community-based organizations.
Anticipated funding: The U.S. Department of Labor intends to award up to $122 million to eligible institutions. At least $65 million will be reserved for projects that focus on the health care sector. Approximately 40 to 50 grants ranging from $1 million to $5 million will be awarded. The project period for each grant will be up to 36 months.
How to apply: Applications may be submitted electronically via Grants.gov or in hard copy by mail or hand delivery. Online submission requires registration, a process that usually takes three to five business days but can take as long as four weeks. Be sure to visit Grants.gov and begin registering well in advance of the deadline.
Resources:
Program notice
Employment and Training Administration website
View the recording of a U.S. Department of Labor webinar about this program.
