Students and Young Adults Career Awareness and Training

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MassCEC / Workforce / Funding / Students and Young Adults Career Awareness and Training

The Challenge: Increase Young Adults' Interest in Climate-Critical Fields

By 2030, the Massachusetts clean energy workforce will need to grow by 34%, or more than 34,000 workers, to meet the state’s climate goals. Many of these jobs will be well-paying, with median wages of over $36 per hour, in 2023 dollars. However, many students and young adults are unaware of the career opportunities available to them in the clean energy sector. Increased knowledge of and interest in climate-critical fields among young adults will help build a stronger, more diverse clean energy workforce in Massachusetts.

About Students and Young Adults Career Awareness and Training

Students and Young Adults Equity Workforce Career Awareness and Training Grants provide up to $600,000 to organizations interested in career awareness and training programming focused on supporting students and young adults.

The grants support programming in the following strands:

Strand A: Clean Energy Career Awareness, Career Exploration, Career Navigation, and Preparedness
Strand B: Career Pathway Training
Strand C: Planning and Capacity for Career Awareness or Career Pathways Training

Open

Award Potential

$600,000

Application Deadline

Priority: January 15, 2026

Final: April 10, 2026

Apply

Questions? Contact

Funding Schedule

Process Step	Timing
Release of Request for Proposals (RFP)	December 2, 2025
Questions due to MassCEC via RFPWorkforce@masscec.com	Ongoing
Questions with answers posted to MassCEC website	Ongoing
Pre-Application Webinar	December 17, 2025 at 12 pm
Pre-Application Office Hours	Multiple dates
Proposals due	Priority deadline: January 15, 2026 by 11:59 pm All proposals due: April 10, 2026 by 11:59 pm
Follow-up questions/interviews with applicants	Within one month of application
Notification of award	Within two to three months of application

Who's Eligible

Individual organizations or partnerships are eligible to apply. If multiple parties are applying jointly, 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
For-profit entities such as training companies, trade associations, unions, or other coalitions of businesses and clean energy businesses
Federally recognized and state-acknowledged tribes
Workforce development organizations (non-profit or for-profit)
Massachusetts Workforce Investment Boards and Career Centers/Mass Hire Organizations

Note: Applicants without the ability to hire staff or receive funds may consider forming a partnership with another group that can act as a fiscal agent.

For full program details, please refer to the Students and Young Adults RFP.

Apply

Application Process

Review this decision chart to find the appropriate program.
Review this RFP, including all forms and attachments, to understand the opportunity, requirements, and MassCEC’s objectives.
Attend MassCEC informational webinars and/or utilize other informational resources offered.
Contact MassCEC with questions and/or to discuss your ideas via email at rfpworkforce@masscec.com.
Submit all completed RFP forms and attachments by email to rfpworkforce@masscec.com by 11:59 pm by April 10, 2026, with “Students and Young Adult Equity Workforce Career Awareness and Training Grants” in the subject line.

Application Materials

RFP - Student and Young Adults Equity Implementation Grants FY26

Attachment 1 - Authorized Applicants Signature Form

Attachment 2 - Application Form

Attachment 3 - Proposed Program Budget and Schedule

Attachment 4 - Sample Milestone Grant Agreement

Attachment 5 - Sample Cost Reimbursement Grant Agreement

Attachment 6 - Decision Chart

Pre-Application Office Hours

MassCEC hosts office hours (one-hour blocks) to answer questions about all open Workforce Development grant opportunities. Join anytime during the one-hour block!