Welder Workforce Development Grant Application
What Assistance is Available?
AWS Foundation has available welder workforce development funds as a result of gifts from generous donors with the motivation to immediately impact and increase the welder workforce. A portion of these funds may be used to address the critical need to recruit and train entry level welders for the workforce, and assist the specific welder needs of welding businesses. The focus of this program will be to recruit and train entry level welders or to provide welders with specific specialized training to assist welder workforce needs for a specific company(s). This program will require a joint application through a partnership between a company(s) and an education & training institution(s).
A maximum of $80,000 total will be awarded through this program. Although there is no maximum set for individual awards, the sum of the individual awards will not exceed $80,000.
Criteria for Participating Companies and Partnering Education Institutions
With this process to allocate funding, we are requiring companies who have a demonstrated need for welders to partner with an education/training institution.
Companies:
Small-to-medium size companies (less than 500 employees)
Large size companies (more than 500 employees) must demonstrate a 40% level of matching in financial support
Must have training needs due to business growth, retirement, or retraining of an existing workforce on new joining or cutting technology
Must demonstrate good housekeeping and safety history. OSHA reports will be reviewed and site visit(s) to the company by AWS Foundation selection committee representatives may be required
Must commit to hiring 100 percent of the graduates of the educational institution’s program, pending economic conditions
Education & Training Institutions:
High schools
Trade schools
Community colleges
Industry partners who have internal training facilities
Union training centers
Must commit to offering the program as defined by the company
All education/training curricula must be based on the participating company’s needs
Overview of the Application Process
The company and the educational institution partner will submit a joint application to the AWS Foundation which will include specific activities that will be implemented to address the company’s workforce needs.
The applications will be reviewed by an AWS oversight committee and selected based on the following:
1. What the funding will be used for, including expected outcomes and measures of success
2. How the outcomes will be achieved; what strategies will be implemented
3. The application’s relevance to the AWS Foundation’s areas of interest
Preference will be given to applications with the biggest impact in reducing welder workforce shortages.
Although matching funds are not required for small to medium sized organizations, company(s) support is encouraged. Large sized organizations (500 or more employees) must demonstrate a 40% level of matching financial support in order to be considered for an award.
Funds may be used for:
tuition for training, which may include certifications
student textbooks and/or related classroom materials
Funds cannot be used for:
facilities improvements
capital items
computers, computer-based training systems
equipment purchases or upgrades
travel expenses
funding will not be available for start-up companies
Measures of Success
AWS will audit the success of the project throughout the year of funding, at intervals determined by AWS. A summary of progress- to- date with specific, detailed information will be required. Projects
will be measured against the original proposal/application submitted. A final report including project summary, numbers of individuals trained, results from the project, and a final, itemized budget, will be required. AWS at its’ discretion may audit student competency against program goals.
Release of Funds
A contract must be signed by both AWS and the grantee. The release of funds will occur at intervals determined by AWS and based on the project activities. Request for funds must include:
1. Summary of progress to date with detailed information
2. Itemized Invoice
The above must be submitted to AWS at the following address:
Sam Gentry
Executive Director, AWS Foundation
550 NW Le Jeune Road
Miami, FL 33126
To find out more and download the PDF version of this information including application, please visit our links and downloads section.
