Green Workforce Mini Grant

Overview

Overview

Denver is offering up to $49,000 to organizations that want to improve their green workforce training in 2025.

Visit our Mini-Grant Portal to learn more about this funding opportunity. You will find guidelines to help with your application. These guidelines outline the grant's purpose, eligibility, and how to complete the application.

Apply for Funding

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must be one of the following:

  • Nonprofits, training providers, community colleges, and technical colleges can apply.
  • Proposal must describe the program design model for Denver Metro candidates, with emphasis on Denver Denver NEST Neighborhoods community members, or Denver employers.
  • Current Green Workforce vendors are not eligible to apply.

Application Process and Relevant Deadlines

We are accepting applications on a rolling basis and will be reviewing them monthly. We will award one Green Workforce Mini Grant per month. If an application is not chosen, but meets eligibility criteria, it will be considered the following month. Please reach out to greenworkforce@denvergov.org with any questions.

For February, we will review all applications submitted on or before February 17, 2025 and award TWO (2) organizations. Award notifications will be sent out by February 28, 2025.

Application Information

To help you get through the application process, please make sure to have this information ready:

  • Contact Information
    • Including name, email, and phone number
  • Organization Information
    • Including the physical address of your business
  • A copy of last year's W9
  • A detailed description of the proposed program design model for Denver Metro candidates
    • This should place emphasis on Denver NEST Neighborhoods community members, or Denver employers
    • Please include metrics for success, potential partners, etc.
  • Detailed budget and timeline of expenditures 

Allowable Uses for Funding

Allowable uses for this funding include:

  • Staff time dedicated to put in place or administer proposed programs
    • Your application should include position titles, wages, and a description of job duties. These duties should related to the proposal.
  • Paid Training of at least $20/hr.
  • Wrap Around Services/Barrier Reduction Services
  • Curriculum development or modification of existing curriculum and program delivery
    • This includes hands-on, guest presenters, online, classroom, on-site, mobile labs, etc.
  • Industry recognized credentials. Examples include:
  • Employer/ Industry engagement
    • This can include work based learning, focus groups, etc.
  • Recruitment events
  • Train the trainer costs
  • Training in a language other than English
  • Training equipment or PPE to ensure safe training spaces

 

Grant Recipients

Blue Sky Training

Expanding course offerings to include Building Performance Institute's (BPI) Infiltration and Duct Leakage (IDL) certification to upskill Denver's green HVAC workforce.

CHC Training, LLC

Creating a mobile friendly, highly interactive OSHA 10 aimed at green construction and trades personnel. They will also be translating the training into Spanish, and offering paid training stipends for Denver local workers.

CHIC

Building "green" credentials and curriculum that enhances the skills of women in construction.

Colorado State University

Developing a Green Building Commissioning Training Program at the Colorado State University Spur Campus in Denver.

Construction Instruction

Developing a “High-Performance Heat Pump Integration Ci Live” training program.

COSSA Institute

Creating a 5-day Electrical Apprentice Pathway program. Trainees will learn solar basics and get hands-on experience. This training helps students get a chance to secure full-time apprenticeships. These apprenticeships lead to careers as Licensed Electricians.

Cross Purpose

Establishing a new career track in the solar industry, providing certified training for their student "Leaders."

Drive Clean Colorado

Creating EV technician training program to upskill current auto technicians.

Emily Griffith Technical College

Training six automotive instructors on EV education.

Green Dot Coalition

Conducting a Block Captain Program, which is an 8-week pre-apprenticeship pilot program, offering young adults and other residents facing employment barriers the chance to develop environmental workforce skills.

Life-Line of Colorado

Developing a Green Workforce Training Program. This program is for BIPOC youth aged 15-24 who have been incarcerated or are at risk of incarceration. This pre-apprenticeship program prepares participants for careers in HVAC, focusing on heat pump maintenance and installation.

Lincoln Hills Cares

Providing a two week program that educates and employs youth in the environmental restoration of the South Platte River.

mQ Workforce Development, LLC

Building a Li-Ion battery-powered mobile HVAC training unit. Also, developing a curriculum and learning management system for five courses. These courses will use “measureQuick Certified AC/Heat Pump Technician” and “measureQuick Certified Trainer” curriculum.

Namaste Solar

Shifting from a state apprenticeship program to a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP), implementing new software and enrolling 30+ new apprentices into a RAP.

Regenerative Education Collective of Denver

Ecological Landscaper training pilot program that supports Latinx and Hispanic individuals in the landscaping industry.

Women Who Charge

Developing an EV Charging Infrastructure Workforce Training Program. This program will train Denver participants for careers as EV Charging Station Technicians.