Section 820.10  Purpose

 

In order to engage eligible individuals to participate in the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, the Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program, Returning Residents Clean Jobs Program, Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, and Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program and utilize the services offered under the Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program, the Department shall, subject to appropriation, contract with community-based providers to serve as Energy Transition Navigators. [20 ILCS 730/5-35(b)] The Department will award grants to Energy Transition Navigators to provide education, outreach and recruitment services to eligible populations to ensure they are aware of and engaged in the Statewide and local workforce training and contractor development programs.  Energy Transition Navigators will prioritize individuals eligible for the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program or the Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program. 

 

Section 820.20  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.

 

"APEX Accelerators" (formerly known as "Procurement Technical Assistance Centers") means an entity that serves as a focal point for the coordination of federal, State, local, university, college, and private resources to provide marketing and technical assistance to business firms in selling their goods and services to federal, state, and local governments.

 

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

 

"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]

 

"Community-based provider" means a not-for-profit organization that has a history of serving low-wage or low-skilled workers or individuals from economically disadvantaged communities. [20 ILCS 730/5-35(a)]

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

"Economically disadvantaged community" means areas of one or more census tracts where the average household income does not exceed 80% of the area median income for the relevant county or counties based on data published most recently by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. [20 ILCS 730/5-35(a)]

 

"Eligible populations" means those individuals who meet the requirements to participate in CEJA workforce training or contractor programs listed in the Energy Transition Act [20 ILCS 730] and to whom Energy Transition Navigators will direct their efforts pursuant to the Program, including, but not limited to, individuals in equity focused populations and economically disadvantaged communities.

 

"Energy Transition Navigators" means the community-based providers selected by the Department to provide the services and activities required by the Program.

 

"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 focused populations" means

 

low-income persons;

 

persons residing in equity investment eligible communities;

 

persons who identify as black, indigenous, and people of color;

 

formerly convicted persons;

 

persons who are or were in the child welfare system;

 

energy workers;

 

dependents of displaced energy workers;

 

women;

 

LGBTQ+, transgender, or gender nonconforming persons;

 

persons with disabilities; and

 

members of any of these groups who are also youth. [20 ILCS 730/5-5]

 

"Equity investment eligible community" and "eligible community" mean 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 above for both R3 Areas and environmental justice communities.

 

"Equity investment eligible person" or "eligible person" means the persons who would most benefit from equitable investments by the State designed to combat discrimination and foster sustainable economic growth. Specifically, eligible persons means:

 

Persons whose primary residence is in an equity investment eligible community;

 

Persons who are graduates of or currently enrolled in the foster care system; or

 

Persons who were formerly incarcerated. [20 ILCS 730/5-5]

 

"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.

 

"Low-skilled worker" means individuals with skillsets that are not currently in high demand in their region, as set forth in the regional level plans, and who could benefit from CEJA training in the clean energy field.

 

"Not-for-profit 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 and provides services directly to low-income individuals or low-skilled workers.

 

"Program" means the Energy Transition Navigators Program. 

 

"Regional level plans" means the current plans, pursuant to WIOA, 29 U.S.C. 3121(c), prepared by the local workforce innovation boards and chief elected officials within regions designated by the State in the State's WIOA Unified Plan.

 

"Small Business Development Center" means an entity that serves as a focal point for the coordination of federal, State, local, university, college, and private resources to counsel and train small business owners, managers, and prospective owners in dealing with financial, marketing, production, organization, engineering, technical, and other small business management concerns. 

 

"State" means the State of Illinois.

 

"State's WIOA Unified Plan" means the current 4-year strategy for the core workforce programs of the State that must be submitted and approved by the Secretary pursuant to WIOA, 29 U.S.C. 3112.

 

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

 

"WIOA" means the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101).

 

Section 820.30  Funding Source

 

The grant awards described in this Part are contingent upon appropriation of funding from the Energy Transition Assistance Fund.  See 20 ILCS 730/5-35(h); 20 ILCS 605/605-1075.

 

Section 820.40  Eligible Grant Applicants

 

A single organization may propose to deliver all 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 provider;

 

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)         Meet the criteria set forth in Section 820.80.

 

b)         The Department will award grants to fund Energy Transition Navigators teams 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; and

 

14)       Alton.

 

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

 

Section 820.50  Required Program Activities

 

Selected Energy Transition Navigators will connect individuals to the CEJA workforce and contractor programs. These Energy Transition Navigators, including their partners, will provide education, outreach and recruitment services to eligible populations, including equity focused populations, to ensure they are aware of and engaged in the CEJA and other statewide and local workforce and contractor development programs. The program activities provided by Energy Transition Navigators and their partners must include the following services:

 

a)         Education, outreach and recruitment will include providing information and consultation to eligible individuals on various training opportunities and supportive services available through CEJA and other statewide and local workforce development programs. Outreach and recruitment strategies may include activities and community-hosted events.  Energy Transition Navigators also will provide guidance to individuals on training and career opportunities in the emerging clean energy economy. 

 

b)         Prioritize outreach and recruitment for individuals eligible for the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program [20 ILCS 730/5-20] and the Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program [20 ILCS 730/5-40].  Energy Transition Navigators must provide enrollment and participation assistance to prospective and enrolled participants in coordination with the organizations administering these two programs. 

 

c)         Partner with organizations that manage the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program and the Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program in the Energy Transition Navigator's region to coordinate outreach and recruitment activities. 

 

d)         Assist eligible individuals in accessing the Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program [20 ILCS 730/5-30] wrap-around support services through the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program and the Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program.

 

e)         Encourage eligible individuals interested in starting or growing a business to participate in the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program [20 ILCS 730/5-45] or the Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program [20 ILCS 730/5-55], or connect them to local Small Business Development Centers, APEX Accelerators or economic development organizations to engage in services, including, but not limited to, business consulting, business planning, regulatory compliance, marketing, training, accessing capital, government contract bidding and certification assistance.

 

f)         In coordination with the organizations that administer the Clean Jobs Workforce Network and the Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Programs in their region, Energy Transition Navigators:

 

1)         Will refer individuals to local workforce innovation boards and other relevant organizations, if those individuals are not interested in the CEJA workforce and contractor programs; and

 

2)         Must engage with local employers, educational institutions, industry leaders, labor unions and other workforce stakeholders in an inclusive manner to identify the skill and hiring needs of the local clean energy industry and to gather information, which will be used to prioritize training program offerings, curricular modifications, career pathway support, and job placement for eligible populations. 

 

g)         Connect individuals interested in entrepreneurial pursuits or other workforce programs to State workforce and business development centers outside of the CEJA programs, including:

 

1)         Small Business Development Centers;

 

2)         APEX Accelerators;

 

3)         American Job Centers (also known as one-stop centers) created through WIOA;

 

4)         Regional or local economic development organizations; and

 

5)         Regional or local workforce innovation boards.

 

h)         Collaborate and coordinate with the Department as well as the grantees and administrators of the programs created by CEJA and other workforce and contractor programs including those programs listed in Sections 820.10 and 820.50(g).

 

i)          Engage potential CEJA program participants across the entirety of all regions the Energy Transition Navigator serves.

 

j)          Foster a welcoming, equitable and inclusive environment. 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, program design and partnerships.

 

k)         Implement a system to track demographic information for program participants, outreach and engagement numbers broken down by race, gender, age, the number of individuals who apply to participate in and complete programs offered through the various CEJA workforce and contractor programs, and other criteria as directed by the Department.

 

l)          Construct an assessment that will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Energy Transition Navigator's education, outreach and recruitment efforts and how this information will be used to improve these efforts in a continuous manner.

 

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

 

n)         Provide an annual report to the Department by April 1 of each calendar year.  The Department will publish these annual reports on its website.  The annual report shall include the following information:

 

1)         a description of the Energy Transition Navigator's recruitment, screening, and training efforts;

 

2)         the number of individuals who apply to, participate in, and complete programs offered through the CEJA workforce programs, broken down by race, gender, age, and location; and

 

3)         any other information deemed necessary by the Department. [20 ILCS 730/5-35(i)]

 

Section 820.60  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 820.50.  Eligible budget cost categories for this Program include the following:

 

a)         Personnel;

 

b)         Fringe benefits;

 

c)         Travel;

 

d)         Equipment;

 

e)         Supplies;

 

f)         Contractual services and subawards;

 

g)         Consultant services and expenses;

 

h)         Occupancy;

 

i)          Research and development;

 

j)          Telecommunications;

 

k)         Staff training and education;

 

l)          Direct administrative costs;

 

m)        Miscellaneous costs; and

 

n)         Indirect costs.

 

Section 820.70  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.

 

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, 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 organization's documentation of need (e.g., identification of the specific targeted communities and populations and the barriers they may face, workforce needs in the target communities and expected impact of the proposed project on specific communities and populations).

 

B)        The applicant organization's capacity and qualifications to execute the project according to the requirements of the Program (e.g., staff capacity and CEJA program knowledge, experience and performance on similar grants and projects, experience working with populations from economically disadvantaged communities, equity investment eligible persons, equity focused populations and individuals impacted by climate change, experience addressing barriers to employment, and connections to organizations such as statewide and local workforce development systems, economic development organizations, educational institutions, Small Business Development Centers, APEX Accelerators, labor unions and industry leaders).

 

C)        A description of the applicant's proposed project design and implementation (e.g., program goals and expected outcomes, approach to conducting participant education, outreach and engagement, project work plan, how the applicant will assist CEJA workforce and contractor participants to enroll in programs and connect them to barrier reduction services, plan to engage with other state and local workforce and contractor resources including, employers, apprenticeship programs and labor unions, and a plan to assess and report on the program activities).

continuous manner.

 

D)        Information demonstrating the cost effectiveness of the applicant's proposed program (e.g., justification of the main budget expense items, an analysis of the cost-efficiency, and the ability for the applicant to leverage existing programs to improve cost-effectiveness, return on investment and long-term sustainability of the program).

 

8)         Resumes of existing key program staff that demonstrate the 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 or other agreements between the applicant and its partner or subcontractor 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; and

 

10)       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 820.80  Grant Award Selection

 

Grants will be awarded by the Department to Energy Transition Navigators 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 820.40(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:

 

a)         Whether the applicant meets the eligibility criteria (Section 820.40);

 

b)         The applicant organization's documentation of need, including:

 

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

 

2)         Identification of the region or regions where this project will operate (see Section 820.40(b));

 

3)         The applicant project's focus on local employment needs and how the program can establish relationships with local employers and facilitate job growth; and

 

4)         The expected impact of the project on the identified target communities and populations, including how the work of the applicant's project will increase participation in the CEJA workforce training or contractor programs.

 

c)         The applicant team's capacity and qualifications to execute the project according to the requirements of the Program, including:

 

1)         Staff capacity, knowledge of all CEJA program offerings and eligibility, and qualifications for successful and timely completion of all program tasks;

 

2)         Relevant experience and administrative performance on similar grants and projects, including experience working to provide services to populations impacted by climate change or to address barriers to employment.  Additional credit will be awarded for those organizations with experience providing services to populations impacted by climate change;

 

3)         Relevant experience working with eligible CEJA program participants, including individuals from economically disadvantaged communities, equity investment eligible persons and equity focused populations, and the ability to analyze the impact of policies and practices on these populations and ensure equitable and inclusive program operations; and

 

4)         The quality of the applicant team's connections to and relationships with the statewide and local workforce development systems, economic development organizations, educational institutions, Small Business Development Centers, APEX Accelerators, community-based organizations, local clean energy and other employers, labor unions, trade groups and industry leaders.

 

d)         The quality of the applicant's proposed project design and implementation, including:

 

1)         The program goals and projected outcomes including, but not limited to, the number of individuals served, number of enrollments in a program, and number of outreach activities and events;

 

2)         The applicant's approach to conducting education, outreach, and engagement, and to recruiting eligible participants for the CEJA workforce and contractor programs;

 

3)         The applicant's proposed work plan, which outlines the project tasks, deliverables, and milestones and the ability to reach milestones in a timely manner;

 

4)         The applicant's plans to assist participants in enrolling in the CEJA workforce and contractor programs, providing career navigation support, and connecting participants to barrier reduction services;

 

5)         The applicant's plans to engage with a variety of local stakeholders, including, but not limited to, workforce development and employment organizations, Small Business Development Centers, APEX Accelerators and community-based organizations, to share information about the CEJA programs, recruit participants, coordinate activities, and refer participants to other services;

 

6)         The applicant's plans to engage clean energy employers, industry leaders, labor unions and apprenticeship programs to identify local job and skill needs, facilitate job placement, and work with the CEJA programs to address these needs; and

 

7)         The applicant's plan to conduct reporting activities, assess program activities, and improve the program.

 

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

 

1)         The reasonableness of the main budget expense items and the cost efficiency in relation to planned outcomes and to the proposed activities; and

 

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

 

Section 820.90  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 Energy Transition Navigators 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

Energy Transition Navigators 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.  In addition to the performance and financial reports, Energy Transition Navigators will be required to submit an annual report to the Department as required by the Program statute [20 ILCS 730/5-35(i)].

 

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

 

3)         Energy Transition Navigators 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 Energy Transition Navigators to assure compliance with all requirements and performance expectations of the award.  Energy Transition Navigators 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

Energy Transition Navigators 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. Energy Transition Navigators shall be responsible for ensuring that contractors and subrecipients comply with the retention requirements.