Good Jobs Challenge

Expanding career opportunities and enhancing lives

The Good Jobs Challenge

The FMWF Chamber Foundation received a $9.62 million grant through the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to expand its Ignite Initiative. The Good Jobs Challenge (GJC) focuses on equity and expands career opportunities for more people to reach their full potential and secure good-paying jobs while producing a skilled workforce for our region (all of North Dakota and northern/west central Minnesota).

Our goal:

To enhance our regional workforce by helping over 900 individuals from underserved populations in Minnesota and North Dakota secure Good Jobs by October 2025 in the Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity/Information Technology and Precision Agriculture/Food industries.

PARTICIPANTS

You can launch into a high-growth, good-paying job in Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity/Information Technology and Precision Agriculture/Food industries with little to no cost with assistance from the Good Jobs Challenge (GJC). We can connect you with education/training partners to help you advance your skills and knowledge.

In addition to access and assistance with training/education costs, GJC can also help provide support to you for essential needs while you complete your training - things such as childcare assistance, necessary equipment for training, ensuring reliable transportation, and connecting you to our Ignite platform to find job opportunities that will allow you to start your career.

Check Eligibility

Who is eligible?

To be eligible to receive assistance, you must:

Be a resident of North Dakota or Minnesota
Identify with one of the following populations:
- New American
- Justice Involved (you or an immediate family member has spent time, or are currently, in jail, youth correctional facilities, or prison)
- Veteran or Service Member
- Person of Color, Indigenous/Native American, Black
- High School Student
- Woman pursuing a career in technology

What support is provided?

GJC Participants can receive up to $5,000 for training/education tuition, costs, fees, and/or other assistance with essential needs. While enrolled in training/education program, assistance may be available for essential needs to help you complete your training such as childcare costs, training equipment, transportation vouchers/assistance, career coaching/placement.

By participating in the GJC, you'll receive:

Supportive services such as transportation and childcare to empower you in achieving your career goals.
Training and educational opportunities for career advancement.
Access to jobs that provide financial stability and opportunities for growth.
Helpful connections with employers in your community.

How do I get started?

Interested in finding out more about being a GJC participant? Here is what is next:

Complete this form
You’ll be contacted by a dedicated Chamber staff member to gather additional information, discuss goals and provide training/education options for you.
Enroll in a training/education program that fits your interest and needs in the Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity/Information Technology and Precision Ag/Food industries.
Start your training/education program
Gain access to support services that help you focus on your training and your career ahead.
Complete your training!
Engage on the Ignite Platform to explore career pathways and identify employment opportunities.
Get hired and begin your new career!

Training and Education Partners

The FMWF Chamber Foundation's GJC currently works with various training education/training providers. If you are currently enrolled or would like to start your training/education with a different provider, please contact Grace Rebel, Career and Education Coordinator, at grebel@fmwfchamber.com or by phone at 701.365.3427

Current education/training partners

Future education/training partner

Employer Partners

If you are an employer looking for assistance upskilling your workforce or would like to be connected with a GJC participant, please contact Jane Vangsness Frisch, vice president of workforce, at jvfrisch@fmwfchamber.com or by phone at 701.365.3440.

SUBAWARD/GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND RFPs

UPDATE: NOFO/RFP INQUIRY FAQ - updated 08/15/2024 | View PDF

To meet the outcomes of the FMWF Chamber Foundation GJC proposal, various subawards and grant opportunities are available to eligible organizations and institutions. Each award is different, please review requirements, outcomes and eligibility carefully. For questions regarding these opportunities contact Jane Vangsness Frisch, vice president of workforce, at jvfrisch@fmwfchamber.com or by phone at 701.365.3440.

Ignite Fair Chance Futures - $75,000 (2 awards)

Eligible applicants:

Eligible applicants must service North Dakota and/or Minnesota and include:

Organizations who directly work with justice-involved populations and are:
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than institutions of higher education
- State agencies
- Organizations without a nonprofit status

What subawards will do:

Engage, onboard, track participants
Develop a comprehensive employee retention toolkit for justice-involved populations. Deliverables include a written guide with actionable strategies, a presentation for training purposes, supplementary materials, and availability for future employer consultations to ensure effective implementation and support.
- Sub-awardees will have access to support from the FMWF Chamber Foundation to assist with the preparation and dissemination of this information. This may include templates, guidelines, equipment, and/or technical assistance.
Engage employers to become fair-chance employers within Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity/IT and Precision Agriculture/Food that are facing critical workforce needs to hire participants into Good Jobs.

Documents and links:

Ignite Amplifier - $50,000 (5 awards)

Eligible Applicants:

Economic development organizations
Chambers of commerce
Industry associations
Tribal entities
Non-profit organizations/foundations

What subawards will do:

Within the awardees’ service area, communities and/or region it is the expectation to:

Engage/add education/training partners with a focus on enhancing current and/or developing new curriculum to quickly upskill talent.
Engage, onboard, and track Good Jobs Challenge participants.
Engage businesses within Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity/IT and Precision Agriculture/Food that are facing workforce needs to hire participants for Good Jobs.
Increase the career awareness of Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity/IT and Precision Agriculture/Food careers with the region.

Documents and links:

Ignite Uplift - $25,000 (10 awards)

Eligible Applicants:

Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than institutions of higher education
Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than institutions of higher education
Independent school districts
Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
Tribal entities

What subawards will do:

Within the awardees’ service area, communities and/or region it is the expectation to:

Provide support and guidance to participants through connecting them with education/training providers and reduce barriers to accessing social support services.
Develop a comprehensive employee retention toolkit for historically excluded or underserved populations. Deliverables include a written guide with actionable strategies, a presentation for training purposes, supplementary materials, and availability for future employer consultations to ensure effective implementation and support.

Sub-awardees will have access to support from the FMWF Chamber Foundation to assist with the preparation and dissemination of this information. This may include templates, guidelines, equipment, and/or technical assistance.

Documents and links:

Ignite Community Promoters - $15,000 (14 awards)

Eligible Applicants:

Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than institutions of higher education
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(6) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than institutions of higher education
Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
Independent school districts
Tribal Entities

What subawards will do:

Provide support and guidance to participants through connecting them with education/training providers and reduce barriers to accessing social support services.
Develop a comprehensive employee retention toolkit for historically excluded or underserved populations. Deliverables include a written guide with actionable strategies, a presentation for training purposes, supplementary materials, and availability for future employer consultations to ensure effective implementation and support.
Increase the career awareness of Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity/IT and Precision Agriculture/Food careers within the region.

Documents and links:

Ignite Microgrants - $5,000 (21 awards)

Eligible Applicants:

Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than institutions of higher education
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(6) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than institutions of higher education
Public and state controlled institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
Independent school districts
Tribal Entities

What subawards will do:

Connect 1-5 participants to education/training providers in agriculture, cybersecurity/IT, and/or manufacturing industries. Connection training will be provided upon award.
Provide an innovative approach to childcare, transportation, English language, or other workforce wrap-around services.

Documents and links:

GJC Education and Training Providers RFP

Good Jobs Challenge

The Good Jobs Challenge

Our goal:

Training and Education Partners

Employer Partners

Read more about the Good Jobs Challenge

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