APEX Center Implementation Grant Program

The APEX Center Implementation Grant Program is administered by the Utah State Board of Education to support the development and expansion of Applied Professional Education Experience Centers. These centers are designed to provide students with profession-based learning opportunities that replicate real-world workplace environments and practices. The program emphasizes collaboration between local education agencies and industry partners to ensure that students gain relevant, hands-on experience aligned with workforce needs. The initiative is supported by a significant state investment, with ninety-seven million dollars allocated specifically for implementation grants. The primary purpose of the funding is to enable local education agencies, including school districts, charter schools, and the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, to create new or expand existing APEX Centers. These centers must provide profession-based learning experiences through structured partnerships with industry, businesses, and community organizations. Funding may be used for planning activities, capital expenditures, and full program implementation. However, funds are restricted from duplicating existing programs, facilities, or equipment unless a clear gap in access, capacity, or workforce need is demonstrated. APEX Centers are required to align programming with high-skill and high-demand career pathways and integrate industry-standard tools, technologies, and instructional practices. Programs must also emphasize the development of durable skills such as adaptability, collaboration, communication, innovation, leadership, and professionalism. Each center must include mentorship opportunities with industry professionals and maintain an advisory board composed of representatives from industry, postsecondary institutions, and the community to ensure relevance to workforce demands. Eligibility is limited to local education agencies, and applications must be submitted at the LEA level rather than by individual schools. Each proposed program strand must include at least one industry partner, supported by a formal letter of collaboration detailing roles, commitments, and contributions. Applicants must meet minimum scoring thresholds in workforce alignment, partnerships, and program design to qualify for funding. Applications from LEAs with significant unused career and technical education funds may be deprioritized until other qualified applicants are funded. The application process is comprehensive and requires submission through the Utah Grants system. Applicants must prepare an executive summary, a detailed project narrative, and multiple required attachments including labor market data, implementation timelines, strategic plan alignment, partnership documentation, and a multi-year budget. The narrative is limited to twelve pages and is evaluated across multiple scored sections, with minimum thresholds required in key categories for eligibility. The application timeline specifies that submissions will open on May 15, 2026, and close on June 23, 2026 at 5:00 pm. An informational session will be held on May 21, 2026, providing applicants with guidance on requirements and submission expectations. Funded projects may extend through June 30, 2030, allowing for multi-year implementation and scaling. Funding is primarily reimbursement-based, though up to twenty percent of the total budget may be provided upfront if justified. Grantees are required to submit annual reports detailing expenditures, progress toward milestones, student participation, and program outcomes. While matching funds are not required, they may strengthen an application in competitive scenarios. The program is expected to recur based on legislative appropriations, supporting ongoing expansion of profession-based learning opportunities across Utah.

Ensure strong industry partnerships with complete letters of collaboration; clearly demonstrate workforce demand and avoid duplication of existing programs; align proposal with labor market data and strategic priorities