Future Energy Jobs Act Multi-Cultural Jobs Program

The Future Energy Jobs Act Multi-Cultural Jobs Program is administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to support workforce development activities connected to Illinois' clean energy economy. The funding opportunity is authorized under the Future Energy Jobs Act and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and is intended to stimulate employment growth in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean energy infrastructure sectors throughout Illinois. The program focuses specifically on providing skill development, supportive services, and occupational training opportunities to traditionally underserved populations seeking entry into clean energy careers. The NOFO identifies targeted populations that include equity investment eligible persons, low-income individuals, English language learners, individuals with low educational attainment, formerly incarcerated persons, foster care participants, and displaced energy workers. The program is designed to increase participation from underrepresented communities and ensure equitable access to emerging clean energy employment pathways. The Department announced approximately $1.5 million in available state funding through this specific solicitation, with three anticipated awards of $500,000 each. Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit organizations that fall within Categories C, E, and F described in the NOFO. These include nonprofit organizations focused on minority youth educational and leadership development, nonprofit organizations with experience implementing utility industry training programs and community economic development initiatives, and nonprofit organizations providing family services, housing education, and job training in partnership with the electric industry. Applicants may only submit one application per category and must submit separate applications if applying under multiple categories. The Department requires applicants to demonstrate prior experience delivering workforce training services and capacity to provide supportive services, employer engagement, and participant transition assistance connected to clean energy careers. Funded programs must provide training aligned with the Illinois Clean Jobs Curriculum Framework and include both bridge programming and job-specific technical training. Required bridge programming must provide foundational employability and clean energy competencies while leading participants toward OSHA-10 and First Aid/CPR certifications. Job-specific training may include solar photovoltaic training, HVAC training, energy auditing, weatherization, electric vehicle technician training, wind turbine construction and maintenance, or related clean energy occupations. Grantees are also expected to incorporate work-based learning opportunities, career planning, supportive services, and follow-up transition services for up to one year after completion. The NOFO encourages flexible instructional delivery methods including virtual instruction, modular programming, open entry and exit models, and work-based learning placements. Applicants are expected to coordinate with Illinois Energy Transition Navigators, workforce development entities, employers, apprenticeship programs, community colleges, and clean energy stakeholders to support participant placement into employment or advanced training opportunities. Allowable costs under the program include direct training expenses, supportive services, staffing, outreach and recruitment activities, case management, employer engagement, and program administration. Administrative costs are expected to remain relatively limited and generally around ten percent of the total project budget. Indirect costs are allowed if supported through a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, a State negotiated rate, or the de minimis rate of 15 percent modified total direct costs. Matching funds are not required for participation; however, applications demonstrating leveraged resources or matching support may receive favorable consideration during the competitive review process. Successful applicants will receive reimbursement-based grant payments and may be eligible for project renewals or no-cost extensions depending on performance outcomes and availability of funds. The anticipated performance period for funded projects is December 1, 2025 through August 31, 2027, with the possibility of up to a twelve-month no-cost extension. Applicants are required to complete registration in the Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act portal before applying. Required registrations include an active SAM.gov registration, UEI number, valid FEIN, and compliance with state standing and exclusion requirements. The application package requires submission of a Uniform Grant Application, Uniform Budget, Conflict of Interest Disclosure, Mandatory Disclosure, and several program-specific attachments including a technical application, project work plan, executive summary, implementation timeline, curriculum plan, staffing plan, and proposed outcomes documentation. Applications must be submitted electronically through the designated Smartsheet application portal. The NOFO specifies document naming conventions and notes that applicants may need to combine files due to upload limitations. Documents stored on cloud-based servers such as Google Docs are not accepted for submission purposes. Applications are evaluated using a merit review process based on applicant qualifications and capacity, documentation of need, project quality and integration, and cost effectiveness. Evaluation criteria include experience serving targeted populations, ability to implement equitable programming, quality of training curriculum and supportive services, strength of employer partnerships, transition planning, data tracking capacity, and expected workforce outcomes. Competitive applications are expected to demonstrate strong plans for participant recruitment, supportive service delivery, work-based learning integration, and employment placement. The Department also requires grantees to track participant demographic information, employment outcomes, retention rates, wages, and qualitative program performance data through Illinois workNet and other reporting systems. Grantees must cooperate with monitoring activities, quarterly financial and performance reporting, and external program evaluations. The application period is described as open on a rolling basis until grantees for the remaining funding categories are selected. The NOFO originally referenced a July 1, 2025 submission deadline, but subsequent revisions clarified that applications will continue to be accepted until awards are made for Categories C, E, and F. The Department reserves the right to reduce awards or decline funding altogether. Questions related to grant administration may be directed to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Grant Help Desk at CEO.GrantHelp@illinois.gov, while application package questions may be directed to Sarah Graham at sarah.graham@illinois.gov. The official grant application and related program materials are available through the DCEO grant opportunities website and Smartsheet submission portal.

Strong applications should emphasize equity-focused workforce development, employer partnerships, supportive services, work-based learning, measurable employment outcomes, and alignment with the Clean Jobs Curriculum Framework. Applications demonstrating leveraged resources and strong transition-to-employment plans may score more competitively.