MassCEC / Workforce / Funding / Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants
The Challenge: Create Opportunities for Underserved Individuals in the Clean Energy Workforce
Those most impacted by climate change are typically excluded from opportunities to obtain employment in the clean energy sector due to systemic barriers and lack of training opportunities that lead to career pathways. The Massachusetts clean energy workforce needs to grow by 34%, or more than 34,000 workers by 2030 to meet the state’s aggressive decarbonization goals. Many of these jobs will be living-wage jobs, with median wages of over $36 per hour (in 2023 dollars). As gaps in the workforce for climate-critical sectors grow, engaging underrepresented populations will be crucial, not just for equity, but also to ensure that the Commonwealth has the workforce needed to meet clean energy goals.
About Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants
MassCEC's Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants increase access to modern, relevant training. The grants provide up to $1,200,000 across two to three years in direct funding and technical assistance to organizations that can build and scale career pathways leading to climate-critical priority occupations for individuals from Environmental Justice (EJ) neighborhoods or low-income communities, members of Federally recognized and State-acknowledged Tribes, Fossil Fuel Workers, and other underrepresented populations.
Applicants may apply for one or more of the following strands:
- Strand A: Career Pathway Training Leading to Employment in Climate-Critical Priority Occupations
- Strand B: Clean Energy Pipeline Training Preparedness for Adult Learners and Job Seekers; including pre-apprenticeship preparedness programming
- Strand C: Planning or Capacity Project Leading to Implementation or Pilot of a career pathway training or pipeline training preparedness program.
Successful applicants will propose projects that address barriers faced by these populations, demonstrate a high level of employer engagement and leverage of existing workforce development systems, and lead to high-quality careers in climate-critical occupations.
Applicants applying for multiple strands must submit a separate application for each strand.
- Career Pathway Training: up to $1,200,000
- Career Preparedness: up to $400,000
- Planning or Capacity: up to $50,000 or $150,000
- December 10, 2025
- February 18, 2026
- May 1, 2026
Funding Schedule
Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants are awarded on an annual basis. Applicants not currently ready for program implementation should consider Strand C of the Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants to prepare for implementation funding.
Process Step |
Timing |
|---|---|
RFP Release |
October 17, 2025 |
Questions Due to MassCEC via WFDTraining@masscec.com |
April 2, 2026 |
Questions with Answers Posted to MassCEC Website |
Updated monthly on 2nd Tuesday through April 14, 2026 |
Pre-Application Webinar |
October 30, 2025, at 1:30 PM |
Pre-Application Office Hours |
|
Proposals Due |
Deadlines: December 10, 2025 by 11:59 pm |
Interviews of Applicants (as needed) |
TBD |
Notification of Award |
Applications submitted by December 10, 2025 will be notified March 2026 Applications submitted by February 18, 2026 will be notified May 2026 Applications submitted by May 1, 2026 will be notified August 2026 |
Who's Eligible
Single organizations or partnerships are eligible to apply. Partnerships are strongly encouraged and may be looked upon more favorably to the extent that they can provide a range of expertise and experience to deliver a comprehensive proposal. One party should take on the role of Lead Applicant.
The following entities are eligible to serve as a Lead Applicant:
- Community-based entities (often referred to as community-based organizations) such as community action partnerships, environmental justice organizations, neighborhood revitalization organizations, advocacy groups, affordable housing providers, affordable housing developers, and non-profits.
- Post-secondary educational institutions, K-12 School Districts, Comprehensive and Vocational High Schools, Middle schools, and Vocational Schools offering a Career Technical Initiative evening program.
- Trade and Labor entities, trade associations, unions, or other coalitions of businesses and clean energy businesses, Non-Profit and For-Profit .
- Federally Recognized and State-Acknowledged Tribes.
- Workforce Development Organizations, Non-Profit and For-Profit.
- Massachusetts Workforce Investment Boards and Career Centers/Mass Hire Organizations.
Applicants are also eligible to apply for MassCEC’s other workforce development grants and programs, as long as those applications seek support for separate and distinct efforts from those described in this application.
For full eligibility requirements and other Program details, please refer to the Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grant Request for Proposals (RFP).
Apply
Application Process
This solicitation has three strands, which are described in the RFP above. Strand A, Strand B, and Strand C have common application materials provided below. Applicants applying for multiple strands must submit a separate application for each strand.
Proposals should be emailed to WFDTraining@masscec.com by 11:59 PM on the deadline date with "Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grant Application" in the subject line.
Application Materials
Strand A
Strand B
Strand C
Send completed application to WFDTraining@masscec.com
Pre-Application Office Hours
MassCEC hosts a series of office hours (one-hour blocks) to answer questions about all open Workforce Development grant opportunities. Join anytime during the one-hour block!
Pre-Application Webinars
MassCEC will hold a pre-application webinar for the 2026 Equity Training and Climate Critical funding opportunities on October 30, 2025 at 1:30 PM.
Recent Training & Implementation Grant Projects
Frequently Asked Questions
- These FAQs were last updated on October 17, 2025.
- Questions are accepted and answers will be posted on a rolling basis.
- Submit questions to WFDTraining@masscec.com
Which Program is Right for Us?
MassCEC has two open solicitations that provide funding and technical assistance to develop and scale workforce training programs for climate-critical occupations: 1) Climate-Critical Training, Equipment, and Infrastructure, and 2) Equity Workforce Training Implementation, (this page). While both solicitations support training programs, The Equity Training Implementation Grants look to support individuals from priority populations with career pathway training or exploration while Climate-Critical Training, Equipment, and Infrastructure Grants look to support Massachusetts based residents with career pathway training or incumbent workers with upskilling. See the table below to decide which funding opportunity suits your program goals.
Climate-Critical Workforce Training |
Equity Workforce Training |
|
|---|---|---|
Funding Amount per Award |
$800,000 |
Up to $1.2 million |
Deadlines |
|
|
Programmatic Goals |
Support Massachusetts residents with career pathway training or incumbent workers with upskilling |
Support individuals from priority populations with career pathway training or exploration |
Match Requirement (Equipment and Infrastructure only) |
Not Required |
Not Applicable |
Target Population |
EJ Neighborhood, Federally Recognized and State Acknowledge Tribes, Fossil Fuel Workers, Low/moderate income Populations, Massachusetts Residents |
EJ Neighborhood, Federally Recognized and State Acknowledge Tribes, Fossil Fuel Workers, Low/moderate income Populations |
Other Resources
MassCEC will look favorably on applications that propose data-driven approaches and leverage pre-existing resources from the robust workforce development and clean energy sectors in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Applicants are advised to use Powering the Future: A Massachusetts Clean Energy Workforce Needs Assessment along with the following additional resources to inform their applications:
Labor Statistics
Clean Energy Sector
Workforce Development
MassHire Regional Workforce Skills Planning Initiative
MassHire State Workforce Board
MA Division of Apprentice Standards
The Boston Foundation SkillWorks Project Catapult on next generation workforce development
Commonwealth Corporation Available Funding Opportunities
Additional Funding Opportunities
Climate-Critical Workforce Training, Equipment & Infrastructure Grants
- Career Pathway Training: $800,000
- Climate-Critical Upskilling: $600,000
- Equipment, Infrastructure and Training Ecosystem Support: $750,000
- Capacity for Climate-Critical Educators and Trainers: $400,000
- December 10, 2025
- February 18, 2026
- May 1, 2026
Clean Energy Internship Program for Employers
$4,320/intern for Fall or Spring session; $8,640/intern for Summer session or for Construction, Installation, and Maintenance
EmPower Massachusetts
- $150,000 (Implementation)
- $25,000 (in some cases up to $50,000) (Innovation and Capacity Building)
March 26, 2026