WORKFORCE INVESTMENT COUNCIL EMPLOYER WORKFORCE TRAINING FUNDS

MORE INFORMATION

Available To Businesses* In Clackamas County

Clackamas County Workforce Response Team (WRT) is soliciting proposals for current worker training projects that will be completed no later than June 30, 2011.

The purpose of the Employer Workforce Training Fund (EWTF) is to:

1. Create and retain living wage jobs in Clackamas County.

2. Build a highly skilled workforce, especially for knowledge-based industries.

3. Enhance global competitiveness of Oregon businesses based on workforce skills.

4. Train current workers.

Who is eligible to apply for funds?

*Businesses, consortia, associations, labor organizations and private non-profits operating in Clackamas County for a minimum of 120 days are encouraged to apply. Government organizations, retail businesses and sole proprietorships are not eligible for funds.

Funds available:

Approximately $152,000 in EWTF funds will be awarded in October, 2010. Single employer awards will be a maximum of $30,000 and consortia awards will be a maximum of $50,000. In some cases, awards may be partially funded.

Application timeframes:

Signed hard copy application proposals must be received in the WRT Fiscal Agent office, Workforce Investment Board of Clackamas County (WICCO), no later than 4:00PM, September 1st, 2010. No exceptions.

DELIVERY ADDRESS:

Workforce Investment Council of Clackamas County (WICCO)

EWTF Application Proposal

365 Warner Milne Road, Suite 202

Oregon City, OR 97045

Employer Workforce Training Funds application proposals will be reviewed on September 14th, 2010 and provisional award notifications will be made thereafter. Successful respondents will be required to attend a Contract Orientation on date to be determined at the WICCO office, 365 Warner Milne Road, Suite 202, Oregon City, OR 97045.

Evaluation process:

The WRT will review all qualified applications and determine the training project’s score according to the funding criteria posted on the WICCO website (www.wicco.org). Grants will be awarded to the highest scores until funds are depleted. Preference is given to organizations not awarded in the past.

The right to reject without penalty any or all proposals received at any point in the review is reserved. Awards will be made to those proposals that best meet the requirements set forth in the Request for Proposal announcement and that support Clackamas County’s economic and workforce needs.

An organization wishing to apply for a training grant should:

• Go to www.wicco.org to download the 2010 – 2011 EWTF Application and Funding Criteria materials.

• Email Jan Filgas, WICCO Director of Programs, at jan.filgas@wicco.org for EWTF program related questions. No phone calls will be accepted. A question and answer page on WICCO’s website will be updated as often as daily, if necessary, through 4PM on August 26, 2010.

• Use standard size 8 ½ x 11 letter size paper for your proposal.

• Staple your proposal application but do not bind it in any other way, or use dividers with tabs.

• Submit a signed hard copy application to WICCO by 4pm September 1, 2010.

Funds may not be used for:

• Training of contract workers, public sector employees, retail employees, temporary employees;

• Recruitment of businesses or workers from outside of Oregon;

• Wages for participants while in training;

• Purchase of equipment; or

• Any costs incurred prior to award and signature of a contract.

If awarded, reporting requirements include:

• Curriculum developed with grant funds

• Quarterly expenditure and employer match documentation

• Final project report

• Aggregate participant demographic information

• Project success story with photo(s) to be shared with statewide partners

Protest procedures:

Any applicant wishing to protest the outcome of a training proposal has five (5) calendar days from outcome notification to submit a written and signed protest to the WRT Fiscal Agent (listed above). The protest must sufficiently identify the specific proposal and state the grounds that demonstrate how the process is contrary to law, or unnecessarily restrictive, or is legally flawed. The protest must contain evidence that supports the grounds on which the protest is based and the relief sought. Clackamas County Workforce Response Team will review the protest and respond in writing within five (5) calendar days.

NOTE: These grant funds are funded, in part, with Employer Workforce Training Funds administered by the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development.

EWTF Success Stories