Exclusive Grant Opportunity for Middle Skills Training

Middle skills jobs are typically defined as those positions which require more than a high school degree, but not a bachelor’s degree. This RFP also takes into account whether the occupation in question offers the opportunity for a living wage. For more on middle skills jobs in Illinois, take a look at this fact sheet, courtesy of the National Skills Coalition.

Programs in the Chicagoland CareerPathways directory that help program participants in the city of Chicago enter into positions requiring advanced certificates and/or applied associates degrees may be invited to apply. Please note: This opportunity is only open to nonprofit organizations.

To ensure that you are considered for invitation, update your CareerPathways program entry by April 9, 2021. That’s it! We’ll do the rest. You will be invited to complete the remainder of the funding application if your program qualifies. All invitations will be sent the week of April 12, 2021.

If your organization does not have an account with Chicagoland CareerPathways, you can click here to fill out an initial application. Once your organization is approved, you will be given a login to our Provider Portal, where you will be able to create your program entry. Applications generally take 2 days or less to be reviewed, with some exceptions.

If you do have an account with Chicagoland CareerPathways, you may create a new entry for the program you wish to have considered for this opportunity. Once you feel that your entry is thoroughly complete, click “Submit” next to the program name on your Provider Portal homepage. We will contact you with any clarifications before finalizing and publishing your entry. Program entries generally take 2 days or less to be reviewed, with some exceptions.

To learn more about our program inclusion standards, click here. Please note that these are guidelines only, and admission to the site is always subject to review by the Chicagoland CareerPathways team. If your program is not eligible, you will be notified along with an explanation, which you may choose to respond to with further clarifications.

There are a number of factors that this funder will take into consideration when deciding which organizations to invite. To best position your program for consideration, make sure that you have fully completed the following portions of your entry:

• Program Financial Information (Located on page 1 of the “Edit program” form), including:
  • Program cost – Tuition and fees
  • Program cost – Books and supplies
  • Percentage of costs typically covered by financial aid
  • Outside financial aid available?
  • If other, what type of financial aid?
  • How do participants qualify for financial assistance?
• Application and Admissions Information (Located on page 1 of the “Edit program” form), especially:
  • From what area do you recruit participants?
  • What is the name of the area you recruit participants from?
• Prioritized Populations (Located on page 2 of the “Edit program” form), including brief descriptions of how populations are prioritized in recruitment or service
• Credentials (Located on page 2 of the “Edit program” form)
• Job Titles (Located on page 2 of the “Edit program” form)
• Eligibility Requirements (Located on page 2 of the “Edit program” form)
• Compensation (Located on page 2 of the “Edit program” form)
• Participant Supports (Located on page 2 of the “Edit program” form), including brief descriptions of the extent and quality of the support provided
• Quality Indicators (Located on page 2 of the “Edit program” form), including any relevant details. If relevant to your program, we encourage you to input the following indicator types:
  • Average Number of Program Participants Per Year
  • Average Salary of Program Completers
  • College Matriculation Rate
  • Program Completion Rate
  • Job Placement Rate
  • Job Retention Rate
  • Earnings Increase
  • Established Partnerships with Employer(s)

All eligible candidates will receive their invitation the week of April 12, 2021. Candidates which were considered but determined not to be eligible will not receive a notification, but may reach out to Becca Senatore, Directory Administrator, at [email protected] after April 16, 2021 if they wish to receive feedback on their entries.

While this Chicago-based funder wishes to remain anonymous until making contact with invited grant applicants, we can share that they are a valued partner of Chicagoland CareerPathways and are dedicated to supporting individuals who are engaged in Progressive Pathway programs, as defined here by the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance. In other words, we love working with them and are confident that you will, too.