This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) sets forth the requirements for funding for the Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program (20 ILCS 730/5-40; 14 Ill. Admin. Code 850) and the Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program (20 ILCS 730/5-30), as specified by the Energy Transition Act as part of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, PA 102-662 (“Climate and Equitable Jobs Act,” or “CEJA”). These two CEJA workforce programs are intended to help accelerate the adoption of clean energy sources, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency efforts. Investments in clean energy technology and infrastructure, funded through CEJA and other state and federal funding sources, will generate significant construction, installation, maintenance, and repair activity in Illinois. Historically, these investments have not benefited all of Illinois’ communities and workers. The Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program and the Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program are two of several programs created by CEJA to rectify these historical inequities.

To create a qualified, diverse pipeline of workers prepared for careers in construction and building trades and clean energy jobs opportunities therein, the Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program creates 3 regional Pre-apprenticeship Centers throughout the State that recruit, prescreen, and provide pre-apprenticeship skills training. Upon completion, participants will be connected to and prepared to complete an apprenticeship program.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity also includes funding for Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program services to support participants of the Climate Works with “wrap-around” support services to improve access and successful program outcomes. Barrier reduction services include funding for tools, mentoring, travel stipends, work clothes, certifications, childcare, and other support services specifically designed to increase access and job retention.

DCEO coordinated the first NOFO “cycle” in 2023 to select grantees to administer the Climate Works Program through May 2027. This NOFO represents “cycle 2” to select grantees to administer the Climate Works Program from June 2027 through May 2030.

The focus of the Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program and the Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program is to help participants successfully transition into registered apprenticeship programs in construction and building trades with a need for clean energy

workforce expansion or other advanced training program or employment. The goal is to sustain a network of Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Hubs that will deliver services at Pre-apprenticeship Centers (“Pre-apprenticeship Centers”) throughout the State of Illinois (the “State”) that will recruit, prescreen, and provide pre-apprenticeship skills training, for which participants can attend free of charge and receive a stipend, to create a qualified, diverse pipeline of workers prepared for careers in the construction and building trades and clean energy jobs opportunities.

To be eligible for the Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program, a person must meet both of the following:

• Be an Illinois resident who is aged 18 or older, or who will reach age 18 on or before the participant's scheduled program completion date; and
• Meet at least one of the following:
• Resides 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;
• Resides in an area that is 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;
• Meets the definition of a displaced energy worker; or
• 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 being a graduate or current member of the foster care system.

Item 1 applies to every participant. Item 2 states alternative routes to eligibility, and a person needs to meet only one of them. A person who qualifies under 2(c) or 2(d) is eligible regardless of where that person resides.

CEJA Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeships are designed to: 1) equip participants with essential pre-apprenticeship skills 2) prepare candidates for careers in clean energy, construction, and building trades 3) support smooth transitions into registered apprenticeships and 4) expand equitable access to workforce opportunities. Projects funded under this program must include the program elements that are outlined in the NOFO in coordination with other CEJA grantees as applicable.

The Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program applicant team must also deliver the Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program services for pre-apprenticeship participants and enrollees, to help them overcome financial and other barriers to participate in and complete the CEJA training program. The Climate Works main grantee may propose to deliver the barrier reduction services themselves or may subcontract with partner with a community-based organization or other nonprofit to deliver these services.

This grant program is utilizing funds appropriated by the State of Illinois budget (PA 104-0464) and authorized by CEJA. The Department will make initial awards up to $10,000,000 for the Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program and up to $6,000,000 for the Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program Services for a statewide total of $16,000,000 for the first 12 months of the awards.

• Anticipated Number of Grants: 3
• Funding Range: $2,000,000 to $4,000,000 per applicant team for Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program administration, plus $1,000,000 to $2,500,000 per applicant team for Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program support services.
• Anticipated period of performance: May 1, 2027 through April 30, 2028
• The Department intends to offer up to two (2) twelve (12) month renewals for each award based on the performance of the grantee. Additional funds of up to $16,000,000 may be available for each of the twelve (12) month renewal periods for the entire network of Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program grantees.
  
  

Eligible applicants for the Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program include nonprofit organizations that demonstrate the following:

• The ability to effectively serve diverse and underrepresented populations, including low-wage or low-skilled workers from economically disadvantaged communities by providing employment services to such populations;
• Experience with the construction and building trades, including demonstrated relationships with construction and building trades registered apprenticeship programs, industry contractors and contractor associations;
• The ability to recruit, prescreen, and provide pre-apprenticeship training to prepare workers for employment in the construction and building trades; and
• A plan to provide the following: (A) preparatory classes; (B) workplace readiness skills, such as resume preparation and interviewing techniques; (C) strategies for overcoming barriers to entry and completion of an apprenticeship program; and (D) all prerequisites for acceptance into an apprenticeship program.

The applicant must be registered in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal (https://grants.illinois.gov/portal/) at the time of grant application. For resources on the items below, please visit this DCEO page.

The portal will verify that the applicant:

• Has a valid FEIN number (https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number)
• Has a current SAM.gov registration (https://sam.gov).
• SAM.gov registrations must be set to “public.”
• Has a valid UEI number (https://sam.gov)
• Applicants must provide a valid UEI number in the GATA Grantee Portal registration.
• Applicants must continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal, Federal pass-through or State award. DCEO may not make a Federal pass-through or State award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements.
• ​Is not on the Federal Excluded Parties List (https://sam.gov​)
• Entities on the Federal Excluded Parties List at time of application submission will not be considered for an award.
• Is in Good Standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, as applicable (https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/business_services/corp.html)
• Is not on the Illinois Stop Payment list
• Entities on the Illinois Stop Payment List at time of application submission will not be considered for an award.
• Is not on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Provider Sanctions list (https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/oig/Pages/SanctionsList.aspx​)

To receive grant funds from the State of Illinois, a grantee must be considered a regarded entity by the IRS for federal income tax purposes. Disregarded entities will not be eligible to receive grant funds.

Applicants must submit a complete application package as outlined in the NOFO. Each package must contain the following items:

• Uniform Grant Application in fillable PDF format
• Uniform Budget utilizing the template provided by DCEO for this project
• Conflict of Interest Disclosure
• Mandatory Disclosure
• Guided Program Application
  
• Project Work Plan
• Resumes and/or Job Descriptions
• Training Qualifications
• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) / Program Partners
• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) / Employers

For detailed information about the funding opportunity and instructions on how to apply, see the full NOFO.

Applications for this opportunity must be submitted by October 30, 2026.

If grantees in any CEJA Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Hub Region are not awarded, this NOFO will remain open on a rolling basis for the regions not awarded until December 31, 2027.

After the application period is closed, the Department will conduct a merit review of eligible applications. Successful applicants will receive a Notice of State Award (NOSA) to initiate the grant agreement phase. During this phase, successful applicants will be contacted by a grant manager to develop a grant agreement, which can be a months long process depending on complexity, cooperation, and conformity with all applicable federal and state laws.

Potential bidders are invited to submit questions to ceo.ceja@illinois.gov.

Questions and Answers (Q&A), regarding applicant questions about the NOFO and the Department responses will be posted and periodically updated, at this link.

• Illinois Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program NOFO
• Uniform Grant Application
• Uniform Budget
• Conflict of Interest Disclosure
• Mandatory Disclosures
• Guided Program Application
  
• Project Work Plan​
  
• Grantee MOU Template
  
• Employer MOU Template​