Good Jobs Challenge

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 

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. 

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! 

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:

• Award announcement and information
• Scoring criteria
• Budget Narrative
• SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE

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:

• Award announcement and information
• Scoring criteria
• Budget Narrative
• SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE

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:

• Award announcement and information
• Scoring criteria
• Budget Narrative
• SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE

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:

• Award announcement and information
• Scoring criteria
• Budget Narrative
• SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE

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:

• Award announcement and information
• Scoring criteria
• Budget Narrative
• SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE

More information coming soon