Regional Workforce Impact Program


Background
The North Dakota Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP) provides grants to regional workforce entities in North Dakota to design and implement innovative plans to address their region’s most demanding workforce challenges. The grant program will respond to the negative impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on workforce and industries by encouraging regions and communities to develop sustainable, innovative solutions to help businesses find workers, and help workers and jobseekers prepare for and connect to better, higher-quality and better paying jobs. The RWIP grant aims to offset the cost of local solutions that will have a regional impact. Funds may be provided as a resource to implement a long-term solution to permanently mitigate workforce participation issues.

Purpose
The goal of the Regional Workforce Impact Program is to empower locally led solutions to one of the state’s greatest challenges. Workforce needs vary by region throughout North Dakota, so a one size fits all approach is unrealistic and would not adequately address challenges in all parts of the state. By creating a regional funding mechanism to support workforce initiatives, local and regional partners have the opportunity to articulate their needs and the ability access funding to address them. The Department of Commerce aims to increase participation in the workforce statewide by equipping communities with resources to invest in initiatives that are catered to the needs of their region.

Partners within each region representing both rural and urban populations should work together and submit one application that includes projects that will address the region’s most pressing workforce challenges and impact various geographies and/or populations throughout the region. Applicants must be able to articulate the greatest impact possible to the region as a whole. Please note that regions are defined as the eight planning regions, although the impact of a project may extend beyond a regions borders.

Up to two bordering regions may work together to combine projects and funding resources. If this choice is made, a formal agreement must be developed and signed by all regional partners and submitted to the Department of Commerce with the grant application.

Eligibility
Eligible applicants include the following North Dakota based organizations:

  • Economic Development Organizations
  • Cities (must be incorporated)
  • Chambers of Commerce
  • Job Development Authorities
  • Regional Councils
  • Other organizations addressing local or regional economic development needs
  • Projects must take place in North Dakota
  • Program participants must reside in North Dakota


Application Deadline: August 30, 2022. One application per region. Applications will not be reviewed until AFTER August 30, 2022.

Applicants must review complete grant guidance and ARPA funding guidelines prior to applying.



Regional Workforce Impact Program Applicaton

General

Section

Single Region Project or Two-Region Project? If Two-Region Project, you MUST include an agreement.

Single Region Project or Two-Region Project? If Two-Region Project, you MUST include an agreement.

I, the authorized representative of the application, certify that to the best of my knowledge the information in the application is true and correct. I certify that the applicant shall maintain accurate accounting records. I further certify that the applicant represents a regional North Dakota based organization and is in compliance with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations. I also certify that the applicant is in good financial standing and has no delinquencies on existing North Dakota State Government grants or loans. Furthermore, I agree that the applicant will abide by the guidelines of the North Dakota Regional Workforce Impact Program and Federal American Rescue Plan Act.

Please save your work to continue. You will receive an email invitation to join the portal to continue with your application and attach required documentation.