Section 840.10  Purpose

 

This Part implements the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program to create a network of program hub sites with program elements delivered by community-based organizations and their subrecipients, geographically distributed across the State, including at least one hub site in or near each of the areas set forth in Subsections 840.40(b).  The main objective of the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program is to prepare participants for entry-level clean energy jobs.  The following document is incorporated by reference in this Subpart and does not include any later amendments or editions:

 

"Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Clean Jobs Curriculum Framework,"

Published by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity May 20, 2023, which may be obtained from the Department online at https://dceo.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dceo/ceja/documents/clean-jobs-curriculum-framework.pdf.

 

Section 840.20  Definitions

 

"Accessibility" means when a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an equally integrated and equally effective manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use.

 

"Bridge program" means assistance provided to Program participants with limited academic or limited English skills to bridge the gap between participants' initial skills and the skills necessary to enter and succeed in postsecondary education and career-path employment by obtaining the necessary academic, employability and technical skills through three required components:

 

Contextualized instruction that integrates basic reading, math and language skills and industry or occupation knowledge;

 

Career development that includes career exploration, career planning within a career area, and understanding the world of work; and

 

Transition services that provide participants with the information and assistance needed to successfully navigate the process of moving to credit or occupational programs. 

 

"CEJA" means the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (P.A. 102-0662).

 

"Clean energy jobs" means jobs in the solar energy, wind energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, solar thermal, green hydrogen, geothermal, electric vehicle industries, other renewable energy industries, industries achieving emission reductions, and other related sectors including related industries that manufacture, develop, build, maintain, or provide ancillary services to renewable energy resources or energy efficiency products or services, including the manufacture and installation of healthier building materials that contain fewer hazardous chemicals. "Clean energy jobs" includes administrative, sales, and other support functions within these industries and other related sector industries. [20 ILCS 730/5-25(a)]

 

"Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs" means the community-based organizations selected by the Department to provide the services and activities required by the Program.

 

"Community-based organization" means an organization that:

 

Provides employment, skill development, or related services to members of the community;

 

Includes community colleges, nonprofit organizations, and local governments;

 

Has at least one main operating office in the community or region it serves; and

 

Demonstrates relationships with local residents and other organizations serving the community. [20 ILCS 730/5-5]

 

"Core values" means the values of diversity, inclusion, accessibility and equity.

 

"Department" means the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

 

"Displaced energy worker" means an energy worker who has lost employment, or is anticipated by the Department to lose employment within the next 5 years, due to the reduced operation or closure of a fossil fuel power plant, nuclear power plant, or coal mine. [20 ILCS 735/10-10]

 

"Diversity" means the representation of people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

 

"Eligible populations" means those individuals who meet the requirements to participate in the Program as set forth in Section 840.80.

 

"Energy worker" means a person who has been employed full-time for a period of one year or longer, and within the previous 5 years, at a fossil fuel power plant, a nuclear power plant, or a coal mine located within the State of Illinois, whether or not they are employed by the owner of the power plant or mine. Energy workers are considered to be full-time if they work at least 35 hours per week for 45 weeks a year or the 1,820 work-hour equivalent with vacations, paid holidays, and sick time, but not overtime, included in this computation. Classification of an individual as an energy worker continues for 5 years from the latest date of employment or the effective date of [the Energy Community Reinvestment Act, September 15, 2021], whichever is later. [20 ILCS 735/10-10]

 

"Environmental justice communities" means the definition of that term as defined by the Illinois Power Agency pursuant to the Illinois Power Agency Act [20 ILCS 3855], but excluding racial and ethnic indicators, where residents have historically been subject to disproportionate pollution burdens, including pollution from the energy sector. [20 ILCS 730/5-5]  For a map that defines these areas in Illinois, refer to this website:  Arcg.is/1Wvv4X.

 

"Equity" means the state, quality or ideal of being just, impartial and fair.

 

"Equity investment eligible communities" or "eligible communities" means the geographic areas throughout Illinois which would most benefit from equitable investments by the State designed to combat discrimination and foster sustainable economic growth. Specifically, the eligible community means the following areas:

 

Restore, Reinvest and Renew Areas (R3 Areas) as established pursuant to Section 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act [410 ILCS 705], where residents have historically been excluded from economic opportunities, including opportunities in the energy sector. Eligible R3 Areas are defined in the R3 service map (website at Arcg.is/1Wvv4X); and

 

Environmental justice communities. [20 ILCS 730/5-5]  See the Equity Investment Eligible Community Map (website at:  Arcg.is/1Wvv4X), which defines the areas that satisfy the criteria for both R3 Areas and environmental justice communities.

 

"Essential Employability Skills" means those general skills that are required to be successful in all sectors of the labor market and are separate from the technical skills attained in career pathways or academic skills such as math and reading.  The essential employability skills, developed by various workforce development stakeholders in Illinois, include, but are not limited to, personal ethics, work ethics, communication skills, and teamwork.

 

"GATA" means the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. [30 ILCS 708]

 

"GATA Rule" means the administrative rules of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget found at 44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000.

 

"Inclusion" means the action or state of including and feeling an empowered sense of belonging within a group or organization.

 

"Low-income person" means an individual whose income does not exceed 80% of the area median income, adjusted for family size, based on the data published most recently by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

 

"Nonprofit organization" means a corporation organized under the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986, in good standing to operate in the State of Illinois, that is representative of a community or a significant segment of a community.

 

"Program" means the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program. 

 

"State" means the State of Illinois.

 

"Uniform Guidance" means the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, 2 CFR Part 200.

 

"Work-based learning" means opportunities for Program participants to practice and enhance the skills and knowledge gained in their program of study or industry training program, as well as to develop employability, and includes an assessment and recognition of acquired knowledge and skills. "Work-based learning" may include career awareness and exploration activities (e.g., guest speakers, job shadowing, mentorship) as well as workplace experience (e.g., internships, service learning, paid work experience, on-the-job training, incumbent worker training, transitional jobs, and apprenticeships).

 

Section 840.30  Funding Source

 

The grant awards described in this Part are contingent upon appropriation of funding from the Energy Transition Assistance Fund (See 20 ILCS 730/5-20(f); 20 ILCS 730/5-30(g); 20 ILCS 605/605-1075). 

 

Section 840.40  Eligible Grant Applicants

 

A single organization may propose to deliver all required services, or may partner with other entities to provide certain elements of the Program.  However, the lead applicant organization alone must meet all the requirements in subsections (a)(1) through (a)(3) and must be able to serve, with assistance from partner organizations as necessary, at least one region listed in subsection (b).

 

a)         To be eligible to receive a grant, at a minimum, applicants must demonstrate the following:

 

1)         Meet the definition of a community-based organization;

 

2)         Have an active GATA registration at the time the application is submitted and be qualified on the GATA Grantee Portal (https://grants.illinois.gov/portal/) by the time the application is reviewed by the Department;

 

3)         Be a regarded entity by the Internal Revenue Service (26 CFR 301.7701-3(b)(ii)) for federal income tax purposes; and

 

4)         Able to satisfy the required activities set forth in Section 840.50 and 840.60.

 

b)         The Department will award grants to fund Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs that have a physical presence capable of serving and accessible to each of the following areas in Illinois, but the grants may serve an area larger than just the listed communities:

 

1)         Chicago (South Side);

 

2)         Chicago (Southwest and West Sides);

 

3)         Waukegan;

 

4)         Rockford;

 

5)         Aurora;

 

6)         Joliet;

 

7)         Peoria;

 

8)         Champaign;

 

9)         Danville;

 

10)       Decatur;

 

11)       Carbondale;

 

12)       East St. Louis;

 

13)       Kankakee (starting July 1, 2025); and

 

14)       Alton.

 

c)         An eligible organization may serve as the designated Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hub for more than one designated area.  However, the applicant's team must be able to serve program participants within all the designated areas and the surrounding vicinities for which they apply. 

 

Section 840.50  Required Program Activities

 

The Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program creates 14 regional Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs throughout the State to provide clean energy and related workforce and training opportunities to participants, engage with potential employers, and form partnerships to ensure participants have dedicated and sustained support to build careers in clean energy and related sector jobs. The Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs must provide all of the following activities:

 

a)         Outreach services, in coordination with Energy Transition Navigators [20 ILCS 730/5-35] and other community partners across the entirety of all regions the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hub serves, to recruit and pre-screen eligible populations for the training program;

 

b)         Training, certification preparation, job readiness, and skill development to program participants, utilizing the Clean Jobs Curriculum Framework (described in subsection (j)) to prepare participants for entry-level clean energy jobs. The training will consist of a bridge program (essential employability skills and clean energy basics) and job-specific training options, selected by each Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hub and based on local clean energy workforce needs.  The entities providing the Program training must be approved to provide training services by all appropriate accrediting bodies;

 

c)         Develop partnerships with entities that provide clean energy jobs, including businesses, nonprofit organizations, and worker-owned cooperatives, to ensure Program participants have priority access to employment training, work-based learning opportunities, and hiring activities;

 

d)         Deliver or provide access through referrals for wrap-around and other supportive services to mitigate challenges participants may face in accessing and completing the training. Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs must offer to Program participants at a minimum access to all of the support and transition services detailed in this subsection (d), but may offer others as needed. The funding source for these services will either be through the Program funds or from the Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program (see Section 840.60), which will be determined by the Department depending on the availability of funds and the needs of the participants See 20 ILCS 605/605-1075(b).

 

1)         Wrap-around Support Services:

 

A)        Transportation costs, including car repairs, gas cards, or bus passes;

 

B)        Childcare or family care;

 

C)        Driver's education and driver's license fees;

 

D)        Personal health services, including dental, vision and mental health care;

 

E)        Emergency bill payments, rental assistance or emergency housing;

 

F)         Referrals for other services (e.g., food, housing, rental assistance, substance use treatment); and

 

G)        Legal assistance, including record expungement.

 

2)         Student Support Services:

 

A)        Tutoring;

 

B)        Make-up classes;

 

C)        Re-testing;

 

D)        Educational enrichment;

 

E)        Technology assistance for virtual learning; and

 

F)         Expenses related to certifications, testing or applications.

 

3)         Transition Support Services:

 

A)        Mentoring and coaching;

 

B)        Job exploration, search and placement services;

 

C)        Resume writing and mock interviews;

 

D)        Job fairs with clean energy employers;

 

E)        Follow-up support services for at least one year after job placement, as needed;

 

F)         Education or training costs associated with entering an apprenticeship program or employment; and

 

G)        Other wrap-around supportive services needed to obtain or retain employment;

 

e)         Deliver transition services to participants following training completion to help participants find jobs, succeed in the workplace, and build their careers;

 

f)         Collaborate and coordinate with the Department as well as the grantees and administrators of all programs created by CEJA, including the following:

 

1)         Energy Transition Navigators Program [20 ILCS 730/5-35];

 

2)         Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program [20 ILCS 730/5-40];

 

3)         Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program [20 ILCS 730/5-45];

 

4)         Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program [20 ILCS 730/5-50]; and

 

5)         Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program [20 ILCS 730/5-55];

 

g)         Coordinate with local and regional workforce entities, building trades, industry contractors, contractor associations, community colleges, community-based organizations, and secondary schools for Program elements and to develop structured pathways for Program graduates to transition successfully into clean energy jobs following Program completion;

 

h)         Use a program model that upholds the core values of diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and equity. These core values should inform all aspects of the program, including, but not limited to, recruitment, partnerships, training, transition services, and barrier reducing supportive services;

 

i)          Distribute stipends to Program participants to encourage participation and retention that are based on participant training attendance and performance;

 

j)          Follow the requirements and guidelines provided in the Clean Jobs Curriculum Framework (incorporated by reference) ("Curriculum Framework"), developed by the Department and its partners through a stakeholder process, to identify the career pathways and training curriculum needed for participants to be skilled, work ready, and able to enter clean energy jobs.  The Curriculum Framework includes requirements for training and training instructors, certification preparation, job readiness, and skill development, including soft skills, math skills, technical skills, certification test preparation, and other development needed;

 

k)         Implement a system to track data elements required by the Department and report this information to the Department quarterly.  The Department will publish an annual CEJA report for the workforce training programs that will include summaries of this data.  The information that Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs will be required to track, includes, but is not limited to, the following:

 

1)         Demographic data, including racial, gender, residency in eligible communities, and geographic distribution data, on participants who enter the Program and graduate from the Program;

 

2)         Demographic data for Program participants who are placed in employment, including the percentages of participants by race, gender, and geographic categories in each individual job type or category and whether employment is union, non-union, or non-union via temporary agency;

 

3)         Participant job acquisition and retention statistics, including the duration of employment (start and end dates of hires) by race, gender, and geography;

 

4)         Hourly wages, including hourly overtime pay rate, and benefits of participants placed into employment by race, gender, and geography;

 

5)         Percentage of jobs by race, gender, and geography held by Program participants or graduates that are full-time equivalent positions, meaning that the position held is full-time, direct, and permanent based on 2,080 hours worked per year (paid directly by the employer, whose activities, schedule, and manner of work the employer controls, and receives pay and benefits in the same manner as permanent employees);

 

6)         Qualitative data, as needed by the Department, to determine program success, consisting of reporting on pertinent issues affecting the program including, but not limited to, qualitative descriptions accompanying metrics or identifying key successes and challenges;

 

7)         Job retention rates of Program graduates for at least two years after job placement as required by the Department; and

 

8)         Any additional information required by the Department;

 

l)          Construct an assessment that will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hub's program and how this information will be used to improve program delivery and improve the training program in a continuous manner; and

 

m)        Cooperate with external evaluation efforts, as directed by the Department.

 

Section 840.60  Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program

 

a)         Subject to appropriation from the Energy Transition Assistance Fund and pursuant to the Energy Transition Act [20 ILCS 730/5-30], the Department will administer an Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program, available to individuals who participate in the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program.  Barrier reduction services are intended to help individuals overcome financial and other barriers to participation in the Program. 

 

b)         The barrier reduction services for the Program are listed in Section 840.50(d) and the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs must ensure timely services and funds to address the unique and often time-sensitive barriers that may arise during participants' training. The coordinators of barrier reduction services for the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs must have strong connections to other agencies and community-based organizations to facilitate these services. 

 

c)         Community-based organizations or nonprofit organizations selected as either a Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hub or as a subrecipient of a Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hub shall provide barrier reduction services to Program participants in need of services.  If barrier reduction services are provided by the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hub, the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hub also must meet all Program eligibility criteria (see Section 840.40). The provider of barrier reduction services must meet the following minimum requirements:

 

1)         The ability to effectively serve diverse and underrepresented populations in the proposed region;

 

2)         The capacity to provide individualized supportive services and distribute barrier reduction funds in an efficient and timely manner;

 

3)         Strong connections to other community-based organizations and local agencies for referrals and hand-offs; and

 

4)         Strong connections to and experience serving equity investment eligible communities within the service region.

 

d)         Providers of barrier reduction services shall coordinate with Energy Transition Navigators (see 20 ILCS 730/5-35) to ensure eligible individuals have access to these services.

 

Section 840.70  Eligible Grant Expenditures

 

Grant expenditures for Program projects must comply with GATA, the Uniform Guidance and the funding source, be reasonable and necessary, and support the allowable grant project activities set forth in Section 840.50.  Eligible budget cost categories for this Program include the following:

 

a)         Personnel (Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs Program staff);

 

b)         Personnel (Supportive services delivery staff);

 

c)         Fringe benefits (Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs Program staff);

 

d)         Fringe benefits (Supportive services delivery staff);

 

e)         Travel;

 

f)         Equipment;

 

g)         Supplies;

 

h)         Contractual services and subawards (Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program services);

 

i)          Contractual services and subawards (Supportive services delivery);

 

j)          Consultant services and expenses;

 

k)         Occupancy;

 

l)          Research and development;

 

m)        Telecommunications;

 

n)         Staff training and education;

 

o)         Direct administrative costs;

 

p)         Miscellaneous costs;

 

q)         Industry-focused training costs;

 

r)          Supportive services (including wrap-around, student support and transition support); and

 

s)         Indirect costs.

 

Section 840.80  Participant Eligibility and Confidentiality

 

a)         Eligible participants for the Program include Illinois residents who are at least 18 years of age and:

 

1)         Reside in an area that is:

 

A)        both an R3 Area as established pursuant to Section 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act [410 ILCS 705] and an environmental justice community; or

 

B)        either an R3 Area as established pursuant to Section 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act [410 ILCS 705] or an environmental justice community; or

 

2)         Qualify as eligible to participate as follows:

 

A)        meets the definition of a displaced energy worker; or

 

B)        is a person who faces barriers to employment, including, but not limited to, low educational attainment, prior involvement with the criminal legal system, language barriers, or is a person who is a graduate or current member of the foster care system.

 

b)         Participant placement will be prioritized in each Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hub region where the applicant pool allows for the following:

 

1)         Dedicate at least one-third of program placements to applicants who reside in an area that is both:

 

A)        an R3 Area as established pursuant to Section 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act [410 ILCS 705]; and

 

B)        an environmental justice community.

 

For participant applicants that satisfy the criteria in subsection (b)(1), preference will be given to applicants who face barriers to employment, such as low educational attainment, prior involvement with the criminal legal system, language barriers, and applicants that are graduates of or current members of the foster care system; and

 

2)         Dedicate at least two-thirds of program placements to applicants who either:

 

A)        reside in an area that is both an R3 Area as established pursuant to Section 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act [410 ILCS 705] and an environmental justice community; or

 

B)        reside in either an R3 Area as established pursuant to Section 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act [410 ILCS 705] or an environmental justice community.

 

For participant applicants that satisfy the criteria in subsection (b)(2), preference will be given to applicants who face barriers to employment, such as low educational attainment, prior involvement with the criminal legal system, language barriers, and applicants that are graduates of or current members of the foster care system; and

 

3)         Prioritize the remaining Program placements for applicants who are:

 

A)        displaced energy workers; or

 

B)        persons who face barriers to employment, including, but not limited to, low educational attainment, prior involvement with the criminal legal system, language barriers, and applicants that are graduates of or current members of the foster care system.

 

c)         The Department will protect the confidentiality of personal information provided by Program participant applicants regarding an applicant's status as a formerly incarcerated person or foster care recipient; however, the Department may publish aggregated data on the number of participants that were formerly incarcerated or foster care recipients as long as that publication protects the individuals' identities. Program applicants may elect not to share with the Department whether the applicant is a graduate or currently enrolled in the foster care system or was formerly incarcerated. 

 

Section 840.90  Form of Grant Applications

 

a)         The Department will post one or more Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on the GATA Grantee Portal (https://grants.illinois.gov/portal/) seeking applications from eligible organizations contingent upon available funds.  Applicants shall submit their application materials by the deadlines set by the Department in the NOFO, which will be at least 30 days after the NOFO posting. The Department also may accept applications on a rolling basis with no set deadline.  The Department will post NOFOs to select new Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs at least every three years.

 

b)         The applicants will be required to submit an application package to the Department, which will include the following:

 

1)         Uniform grant application;

 

2)         Uniform budget template;

 

3)         Conflict of interest disclosure form;

 

4)         Mandatory disclosures form;

 

5)         Executive summary or similar requirement, which describes the applicant team, geographic regions to be served, partnership organizations, if applicable, the services to be provided and eligible populations to be served, brief description of the training areas or topics that will be delivered, anticipated goals and outcomes of the project, and the grant amount requested;

 

6)         Budget narrative;

 

7)         Technical proposal, which describes the program activities and outcomes that the applicant will support if selected and must include the following information:

 

A)        The applicant team's qualifications and capacity (e.g., capacity, experience and expertise of the applicant and applicant team to administer all elements of the Program).

 

B)        The applicant organization's documentation of need (e.g., identification of the specific targeted equity investment eligible communities or populations and the barriers they may face, workforce needs in the target communities and expected impact of the proposed project).

 

C)        A description of the applicant's proposed project plan (e.g., the training program's design and integration of the Curriculum Framework, plan for outreach and recruitment, program goals and anticipated outcomes, plan for delivering barrier reduction services, plan for transitions to employment, and the plan to create a program culture that incorporates core values).

 

D)        Information demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of the applicant's proposed program (e.g., justification of the main budget expense items and cost per participant, including barrier reduction services, costs of subcontractors and other partners and the ability for the applicant to leverage existing programs to improve cost-effectiveness).

 

8)         Resumes of existing key program staff and instructors that demonstrate capacity to complete the work outlined in the application.  For key staff and instructor positions that will need to be filled using Program funds, include a job description for each position, including individual qualifications sought for each position;

 

9)         Partnership agreements between the applicant and its partner organizations for the project. The agreements must detail the entity's information, key staff information, roles and responsibilities associated with the project and dollar amounts for specific services to be rendered;

 

10)       Memorandums of Understanding from employers who agree to consider hiring program graduates or offer on-the-job training or work-based learning opportunities; and

 

11)       Any additional information required to demonstrate the applicant's ability to administer a Program or that further supports the information submitted by the applicant for the proposed project.

 

Section 840.100  Grant Award Selection

 

Grants will be awarded by the Department to Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs following a merit review by the Department and pursuant to GATA requirements (44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000.350).  The Department will award grants for each round of funding, representing service to each of the regions identified in Section 840.40(b).  All applications will be sorted by proposed region. The highest scoring applications per region will be prioritized. If the concentration of eligible participants justifies it, the Department may award grants to multiple applicants in a region. The final grant awards will be negotiated by the Department based on the applications' alignment with the requirements of the Program. The purpose of negotiations will be to arrive at acceptable grant terms, including budgetary and scope of work provisions, at which time the final decision to make a grant award will be made. In evaluating applications, the Department will consider the criteria listed below:

 

a)         Whether the applicant meets the eligibility criteria (Section 840.40);

 

b)         The applicant team's qualifications and capacity to administer the Program, meet Program requirements and use core values for Program operation, including:

 

1)         Capacity to administer the Program and meet the proposed Program outcomes;

 

2)         Expertise and capacity to deliver a wide variety of supportive services in a timely and efficient manner;

 

3)         Relevant experience and qualifications of the applicant team's staff, including partners, subcontractors and subrecipients, to be assigned to recruit, enroll, train and provide supportive services to the identified target eligible populations;

 

4)         The quality of the applicant's experience and ability to use core values for program operations; and

 

5)         Relevant experience and qualifications of the applicant team's staff to work with and connect participants to clean energy jobs or advanced training programs.

 

c)         The applicant organization's documentation of need in the community for the proposed project, including:

 

1)         The applicant project's focus on specific equity investment eligible communities or populations; identification of barriers that these target communities or populations may face; and workforce needs in target communities;

 

2)         Identification of the region or regions where this project will operate (see Section 840.40(b)) and the specific locations where the training will be offered;

 

3)         The applicant project's identification of clean energy employment needs and targeted occupations in the proposed regions and how the applicant will address these needs through the Program, as supported by local and regional labor market information; and

 

4)         The expected impact of the applicant's project on the identified target communities, populations, and job growth in target trades.

 

d)         The quality of the applicant's proposed project plan and demonstrated ability to meet Program requirements and outcomes, including:

 

1)         The applicant's training program design, curriculum and methods of delivery, including integration of the Curriculum Framework in training program design and how the Curriculum Framework will support the needs of program participants;

 

2)         The applicant's plan for outreach and recruitment strategies to target populations specifically in equity investment eligible communities, in coordination with Energy Transition Navigators (see 20 ILCS 730/5-35);

 

3)         Program goals and anticipated outcomes including number of participants served, industry-recognized skills, certifications, employment in clean energy jobs post-graduation or enrolled in other advanced training programs;

 

4)         The applicant's plan for delivering Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program services to facilitate access to and completion of the training program, including intake, distribution of funds, referrals and a list of services to be provided;

 

5)         The applicant's plan to help participants transition to employment in the clean energy industries and the quality of the partnership agreements with employers for job placement and work-based learning opportunities;

 

6)         The applicant's plan to create a program culture that incorporates the core values of diversity, inclusion, accessibility and equity in program design, recruitment, wrap-around supports and transition services; and

 

7)         The applicants plan to track program outcomes, assess the program and use this information to improve program delivery.

 

e)         The cost-effectiveness of the applicant's proposed program, including:

 

1)         The cost efficiency and effectiveness of the planned activities and projected outcomes;

 

2)         The cost efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed supportive services, including those funded by the Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program, that will be offered to program participants; and

 

3)         The applicant's ability to leverage existing programs, services and partnership to improve cost-effectiveness, return on investment, and long-term sustainability of the program.

 

Section 840.110  Grant Administration

 

a)         Grant Agreements and Payment Disbursements

 

1)         Applicants selected to receive a grant will enter into a grant agreement with the Department, which specifies the terms and conditions of the award.  Grants will be awarded for an initial term of twelve to fifteen months with the option for the Department to renew the awards for up to two additional years, with additional funding, based on the activities, outcomes and performance of the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs

as well as the availability of funds. The renewals, if granted, would occur after the initial period of programmatic performance and an evaluation of services and outcomes by the Department.

 

2)         Grant awards will be administered in a manner that complies with all applicable State and federal requirements including, but not limited to, GATA, the Uniform Guidance, the Program statute and this Part.  The Department reserves the right to suspend or terminate a grant agreement, recoup grant funds received under this Part or withhold any future year funding for non-compliance with the provisions in the grant agreement or non-compliance with applicable State and federal laws and regulations.

 

3)         The Department will disburse grant funds in accordance with a schedule included in the grant agreement. The Department may disburse funds based on the outcomes outlined in the grant agreement.

 

b)         Grant Performance, Monitoring and Reporting Requirements

Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs shall comply with all GATA and Department requirements set forth in the grant agreement for grant performance, administration, audits, monitoring and reporting. 

 

1)         Grant performance goals and performance and expenditure reporting will be based on the specific grant project activities of each grant award and will follow GATA requirements (44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000.410), which include periodic financial and performance reports at least quarterly, and financial and performance close-out reports after the end of the grant term (see 44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000.440). The deadlines for all required reports will be set forth in the grant agreement.

 

2)         Grant audits shall be based on the standards set forth in the GATA requirements (44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000.90).

 

3)         Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs must monitor their grant activities and those of any subrecipients and contractors to assure compliance with applicable State and federal requirements and to assure their performance expectations are being achieved.  The Department will monitor the activities of Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs to assure compliance with all requirements and performance expectations of the award.  Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs shall timely submit all required reports, and shall supply, upon the Department's request, documents and information relevant to the award.  The Department may monitor activities through site visits.

 

c)         Records Retention

Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs shall maintain, for the period of time set forth in the GATA rules (44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000.430(a) and (b)) adequate books, all financial records and supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to the program. If any litigation, claim or audit is started before the expiration of the retention period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken. Clean Jobs Workforce Network Hubs shall be responsible for ensuring that contractors and subrecipients comply with the retention requirements.