The Kansas Department of Commerce and its partners have been awarded various workforce development grants over the past year to help train the Kansas workforce. Below is a summary of key grants, as well as related documents for each. Click on each grant for more information.

Early Childhood Associated Apprenticeship Program ($629,580 over three years) 
Awarded 2009; three-year performance period 
The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) provided Commerce state set-aside dollars from the Child Development Block Grant to support state Registered Apprenticeship staff salaries and some administration. SRS dollars also cover tuition, books, and fees for the required Related Technical Instruction (RTI) for apprentices in the program (20 hours of early childhood college credit), the Child Development Associate (CDA) assessment costs, and a mentor stipend for 50-100 apprentices.

Documents
Solicitation of Grant Application (SGA)
Submitted Proposal
Notice of Award


Forum on Policy Framework and Strategic Investment to Drive State Competitiveness Grant ($10,000)
Awarded May 2010; one-year performance period
The National Governor’s Association provided these funds to cover publication, meeting, travel and consultant fees to gather stakeholders and policymakers to develop strategies that enhance the economic competitiveness of the state. The governor’s office, Commerce and the Board of Regents worked closely and utilized these funds to plan and implement the Governor’s Forum on Increasing Postsecondary Credential Attainment Rates. The forum was held on September 17, 2010. All funds were spent on direct forum costs.

Documents
Solicitation of Grant Application (SGA)
Submitted Proposal
Notice of Award


National Emergency On-the-Job-Training Grant ($641,903)
Awarded June 2010; two-year performance period
Grants are focused on providing OJTs for dislocated workers, in particular for those hard-to-serve populations with the greatest barriers to reemployment. Dislocated workers must have been laid off (impact date) on or after January 1, 2008 and be prolonged unemployed (19.3 weeks or longer). The OJT is based on an agreement between the local workforce investment board and employer providing training at its worksite. OJT opportunities must be within the private and private non-profit sectors, not the public sector. Grant dollars also fund one full-time staff.

Documents
Solicitation of Grant Application (SGA) 
Submitted Proposal 
Notice of Award


Health Care Workforce Development Planning Grant ($150,000)
Awarded September 2010; one-year performance period
Grant funds will be used to to enhance and develop partnerships in a year-long effort to develop a long-term plan to overcome projected healthcare shortages. Funds will cover expenses incurred in the development of a strategic plan to address workforce shortages in primary health care professions and submission of an implementation grant. This will include the salary of one full-time employee who will work under the direction of a sub-committee of the KANSASWORKS State Board.

Documents
Solicitation of Grant Application (SGA) 
Submitted Proposal 
Notice of Awards


Kansas Department on Aging Grant ($55,000)
Awarded December 2010; two-year performance period
Grant dollars will support a portion of the costs of related technical instruction (RTI) for apprentices in Medicare/Medicaid nursing facilities or long-term care units of hospitals who sponsor a Health Support Specialist (HSS) Registered Apprenticeship program.

Documents
Solicitation of Grant Application (SGA)
Submitted Proposal
Notice of Award


Kansas Disability Employment Initiative Grant ($1,879,459)
Awarded October 2010; three-year performance period
The Kansas DEI will develop and implement sound recruiting, training and placement practices for people with disabilities based on the similar and soon-to-be expired federal Disability Program Navigator initiative. Program partners will provide services, resources and support for program participants. The goal of the Kansas DEI is to create systemic and sustainable change in the way the workforce system serves individuals with disabilities. Grant funds will additionally cover the salary of one DEI Coordinator, one Employment Network Administrator, one Business Leadership Network Administrator, one Provider Leadership Network Administrator, and two Disability Resource Coordinators.

Documents
Solicitation of Grant Application (SGA) 
Submitted Proposal 
Notice of Award 
Notice of Obligation Letter

Kansas Health Profession Opportunity Project Grant ($15,335,480 over five years)
Awarded September 2010; five-year performance period
KHPOP partners will use these grant funds to provide healthcare education, training and employment for 500 TANF recipients and other low-income individuals statewide. The KHPOP features several innovative elements: career coaches, monetary incentives for GED completers, financial assistance for employers, high-definition video conferencing, Work Opportunity Tax Credit and Federal Bonding. Grant funds will additionally cover the salary of one project director and ten career coaches statewide.

Documents
Solicitation of Grant Application (SGA) Modification 
Solicitation of Grant Application (SGA) Original 
Submitted Proposal 
Notice of Award


RAWorks Grant ($821,527)
Awarded 2009; three-year performance period
Funds are used to expand a successful workforce training model serving skilled trade occupations in advanced manufacturing and energy industry, promoting entry-level certificates articulating into Registered Apprenticeship as a viable, effective training option for dislocated workers. Two positions were funded to administer the grant and to promote benefits to employers engaged in or desiring to expand or initiate a Registered Apprenticeship program. The grant pays up to $1,250 for related technical instruction (RTI) for dislocated workers hired into Registered Apprenticeship opportunities and up to $1,500 for dislocated workers to acquire a Manufacturing Skills Certification or Process Flow Technology Certification to enhance their skills and employability in these industries. The grant also funds high-definition video conferencing equipment, one in each of three local pilot areas, to aid in building training capacity through a blended learning approach.

Documents
Solicitation of Grant Application (SGA)
Submitted Proposal
Notice of Award


Registered Apprenticeship Implementation Grant ($100,000)
Awarded July 2009; two-year performance period
Grant funds assist the Kansas Registered Apprenticeship Program better serve the needs of dislocated workers and other unemployed individuals through a revised apprenticeship framework that brings Kansas Registered Apprenticeship into compliance with new federal regulations and develops strategic partnerships with workforce development.

Documents
Solicitation of Grant Application (SGA) 
Submitted Proposal 
Notice of Award


Second Chance Act Grant ($894,304)
Awarded July 2010; three-year performance period
The Kansas Department of Corrections will act as the grant coordinator in close partnership with Commerce and the Reentry Policy Council to administer this program. This grant will fund the Director of Alternative (Offender) Workforce Development position that will report directly to the Deputy Secretary of Workforce Services. This individual will work to increase offender participation in job development and vocational training, so offenders are always included as a viable part of the workforce of Kansas.

Documents
Solicitation of Grant Application (SGA) 
Submitted Proposal 
Notice of Award 
Outreach

State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grant ($5,999,890) 
Awarded January 2010; three-year performance period
Grant funds are used to provide training throughout the state in the energy efficiency and renewable energy fields. Two positions will be funded with grant dollars to support the services provided through this initiative. Funds will also be dispersed to specific community colleges throughout the state to enhance and expand their curriculum in these areas. These initiatives will position Kansas to meet employer demand in these growing areas. For details, visit our SESPT page.

Documents
Solicitation of Grant Application (SGA) 
SESPT Submitted Proposal 
Notice of Award 


Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program Grant ($492,016)
Awarded June 2010; one-year performance period
The VWIP grant will support President Obama’s commitment to “green energy jobs.” The Kansas program will expedite the reintegration of 150 recently separated or disabled veterans into the civilian workforce. This project will benefit Kansas employers by providing trained and competent workers to fill jobs in green industries and will benefit eligible veterans by accelerating their reintegration into jobs offering good pay and benefits. Grant dollars also fund two full-time staff.

Documents
Solicitation of Grant Application (SGA) 
Submitted Proposal 
Submitted Budget 
Notice of Award