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  2. Workforce Solutions
  3. Worker Advancement Initiative
  4. WAI Round 2 Announcement and Request for Applications

Worker Advancement Initiative Round 2 Announcement and Request for Applications

Announcement

DWD is seeking grant applications from Wisconsin's local Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) for Round 2 of the Worker Advancement Initiative (WAI-2). This Request for Applications (RFA) will be open through 5:00pm Central Time on March 3, 2025.

A total of $10 million is available for these awards. DWD is not imposing a per-award cap but reserves the right to negotiate final award amounts to ensure they fit within the total budget and maximize geographic reach and potential outcomes.

This project is being supported by federal award number SLFRP0135 awarded to the Department of Workforce Development via the Wisconsin Department of Administration by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Through WAI-2, DWD will award grant monies to eligible WDBs on a competitive basis to provide short-term, subsidized workforce training opportunities to eligible individuals. Such opportunities may be provided as paid work-based learning and/or paid classroom training, must include direct-to-participant cost-of-living stipends and/or incentives for achievement of program-related goals, and may include other supportive services.

DWD will review all applications it receives under this RFA to ensure alignment with the goals of WAI-2 and DWD's strategic priorities, and will make its awards using the evaluation criteria outlined in the "Evaluation Checklist" tab of the WAI-2 Application & Budget Worksheet.

Each eligible and interested WDB should apply for the level of funding it believes is necessary to carry out WAI-2. If DWD receives requests for funding that exceed the total amount of funding available, DWD will determine funding allocations that maximize the use of the funds to achieve success of the program. All resulting grant awards will have a period of performance end date of June 30, 2026. Administrative funds will be limited to a maximum of 10% of the programmatic costs of the award. (i.e., Total budget = Programmatic costs + 10% of Programmatic costs).

WAI-2 Goals & Requirements

WAI-2 aims to provide 1,000 eligible individuals short-term (12 months or fewer) subsidized workforce training opportunities.

Workforce training must be provided and may be delivered as paid work-based learning or fully funded classroom training.

Individuals engaged in workforce training must receive a cost-of-living stipend paid directly to the participant and/or an incentive(s) for achievement of program-related goals, as determined appropriate by the local WDB.

Individuals engaged in workforce training may also receive supportive services, as determined allowable and appropriate by the local WDB, to enable their success in workforce training activities.

See the Worker Advancement Initiative – Round 2 – Project Implementation Plan for more information.

DWD Strategic Priorities for WAI-2

  1. Engage individuals who continue to struggle with meaningful employment post-pandemic, including those who are underemployed (as defined in the Worker Advancement Initiative – Round 2 – Project Implementation Plan).
  2. Engage individuals presumptively impacted or disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, as delineated at 31 CFR 35.6(b)(2). (DWD strongly encourages partnership with DET-Job Service and DET-Worker Connection staff to assist with participant outreach and recruitment activities).
  3. Develop and/or strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations who serve such individuals by supporting/funding existing programming and/or partnering to develop new programming. (DWD may reach out to individual WDBs with recommendations for community partnerships based on funding requests previously received by the Department.)
  4. Develop workers for emerging and high-demand industries and occupations as identified in Wisconsin's 2024-2027 WIOA Combined State Plan, the 2024-2027 WIOA Local Plan for the respective applicant, or otherwise supported by labor market information.

Eligible Applicants

Wisconsin's local Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) that meet the requirements of the Due Diligence Questionnaire included in the WAI-2 Application & Budget Worksheet.

Period of Performance

Date of Award (TBD) – June 30, 2026

Application Instructions:

  1. Complete a WAI-2 Application & Budget Worksheet. Respond to each field within the worksheet to:
  2. Save the file using the following naming convention: WAI2_Application_[WDB Acronym] (e.g., for WDA 1 "WAI2_Application_SEWIWDB").
  3. Submit to DETBWTWAIGrants@dwd.wisconsin.gov the completed WAI-2 Application & Budget Worksheet.

Completed applications are due no later than 5:00pm Central Time on March 3, 2025.

NOTE: The WAI-2 Application & Budget Worksheet contains four tabs: "Budget," "Proposal," "Due Diligence Questionnaire," and "Evaluation Checklist." The "Budget," "Proposal," and "Due Diligence Questionnaire" tabs must be completed by the WDB to constitute a complete application. The "Evaluation Checklist" tab is for reference and DWD use only; WDBs should not complete this tab.

Application Review & Award Process

Beginning March 4, 2025, DWD will review received applications in the following manner:

  1. Risk Assessment: DWD will review the "Due Diligence Questionnaire" responses provided. Applicants are strongly encouraged to verify that there are no unresolved issues in these areas prior to submitting the application or should provide a detailed explanation with the application. As indicated in the "Due Diligence Questionnaire," DWD may request during the review period that the applicant to provide the most recent three years of audited financial statements.
    1. If the department deems the applicant is eligible after the review of the "Due Diligence Questionnaire," the application will move on to the next step in the process.
    2. If the department deems the applicant is not eligible after the review of the "Due Diligence Questionnaire, the applicant will be notified in writing of this decision as indicated in Step 3 below.
  2. DWD will review the "Budget" and "Proposal" using the criteria outlined in the "Evaluation Checklist" tab of the WAI-2 Application & Budget Worksheet. DWD reserves the right to contact applicants for additional information and/or negotiate modifications to the project plan(s) and/or budget(s) prior to making final awards.
  3. Applicants will be notified, in writing, of DWD's final award decisions within 30 days of the application deadline (thus by April 2, 2025).

WDBs receiving awards will be required to sign a grant agreement with DWD to receive these funds. As a condition of the grant agreement, each WDB must agree to comply with the requirements of section 602 of the ARPA, regulations adopted by Treasury pursuant to section 602(f) of ARPA, and guidance issued by Treasury regarding the foregoing. Each WDB will also be required to follow all other federal regulations applicable to the ARPA funds awarded to DWD, which will be listed in the grant agreement.

For any questions about this Request for Applications or the Worker Advancement Initiative – Round 2, please email DETBWTWAIGrants@dwd.wisconsin.gov.

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