1. What is the Workforce Development Grant Program?
In 2025, the Workforce Development Program Cash Fund was established to promote workforce development efforts in Nebraska. This fund will award grants for projects that support these initiatives. Proposals will be evaluated by the Nebraska Workforce Development Board (NWDB), and the Commissioner of the Nebraska Department of Labor will grant the awards. See Nebraska Revised Statute 81-407.
2. How many grants are awarded each year?
The Commissioner can award up to 18 grants for projects submitted by the board, and up to three additional grant awards at her discretion.
3. Who can apply?
Applicants can include, but are not limited to: local workforce development area boards, local area navigators, educational institutions, community organizations, business and labor union representatives, and other relevant stakeholders.
4. What is the eligibility criteria?
The NWDB will consider the following when reviewing all submitted proposals:
- alignment with state workforce development priorities, strategies and initiatives designed to develop Nebraska’s workforce;
- alignment with the Good Life, Great Careers Initiative established in Executive Order No. 25-15;
- feasibility of implementation; and
- whether the submitted proposals, in totality, provide representation to all of Nebraska’s local workforce development areas.
5. What information will be requested on the application?
Each submitted proposal must include a description of the purpose of the proposed workforce development project and the desired outcome. Proposals must also include a method of measuring success for the proposed project.
Applicants will be asked for the following:
- Description of your project
- Estimated cost and what will be funded
- Project goals, metrics and success measures
- Project sustainability
- Contact information
- Description of your organization
6. What does ‘specific industry’ ‘specific region,’ and ‘statewide’ mean on the grant application form?
Please select ‘specific industry’ if your grant proposal is related to strategies and initiatives to develop the workforce in a specific industry – for example, manufacturing, healthcare, or information technology. Please select ‘specific region’ if your grant proposal is related to strategies and initiatives to develop the workforce in a specific region of Nebraska – regions can be found here: https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/regions/. Please select ‘statewide’ if your grant proposal impacts multiple regions and is not specific to one industry. If your grant proposal matches more than one definition, please select the one that most closely matches.
7. How much can be requested?
There is no restriction on the amount requested, and the Commissioner may choose to award a lower amount than requested.
8. What is the application deadline?
All grant proposals intended for consideration must be submitted no later than February 1 of each year. Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be considered for that calendar year’s review process unless otherwise approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee of the NWDB.
9. What is the review process?
At its annual meeting in March, the NWDB will review and select up to 18 grant proposals for submission to the Commissioner of Labor. The Commissioner of Labor may approve, reject, or modify any grant proposal submitted by the NWDB, and may select up to three grant recipients in addition to the board’s recommended recipients.
10. When will the decision be made on the applications?
The NWDB must submit proposals by April 30th of each year. The Commissioner will make the final decision after the NWDB formally submits the selected proposals.
11. How will we be informed of the status of our application?
The Nebraska Department of Labor will communicate final approval or denial of grant applications after the Commissioner has made the final decision.
12. When will grant recipients receive the money?
Grant allocations will be made in full after grant applications are approved and grant agreements are signed.
13. Can a business/organization apply for more than one grant for multiple projects?
No, a business/organization may only apply for one grant per calendar year. However, the business/organization may apply for additional grants in the future.
14. What are the reporting and/or monitoring requirements attached to the grant?
Reporting and monitoring requirements will be outlined in the final grant agreement. Reporting requirements will be tied to the success metrics included in the grant application.
15. Are there time parameters for the project (completed in 1 year, 2 years, etc.?)
No, there are no timelines attached to the length of the project submitted in the grant application.
16. Who can I contact if I have questions?
Please contact the Nebraska Department of Labor at: ndol.employerservices@nebraska.gov with questions.