Workforce Trainning

Funding Allocation Summary:

Funding of up to $40,000,000 is available under this CDBG-DR Program. Individual awards will be determined through proposals and cannot exceed $5,000,000 per participating entity.

Description: 

The Government of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH) is proud to announce the launch of the Work Force Training Program (WFT). The Program will support job training programs to meet the need for skilled job training on the Island and to create a labor force to better meet the needs of the reconstruction and the skill capacity necessary to push Puerto Rico into the economy of the future.

Initially, WFT will provide funding for technical assistance to expand and strengthen job training programs. The Program will evaluate applications from entities with a project plan to expand their current training programs or to develop new programs that address the current and/or future training needs of the people of Puerto Rico. Funding will allow entities to accept and train more students and to offer new subjects or services to potential trainees in Puerto Rico.

Following the initial phase, WFT will provide funding to entities that want to expand training courses offered and/or that want to build, renovate, or expand a physical space where a training program will be administered. This funding will allow applicant entities to expand their program offerings and/or construct or improve spaces for training programs across the Island.

Eligible Program Applicants must meet all the following requirements:

• Must be physically located in Puerto Rico, branch offices are acceptable.
• Must be running an existing training program with proven capacity or have a training curriculum developed for a new or expanded training program.

Eligible entities for the WFT Program include:

• NGO (501(c)(3)) or Not for Profit Entities
• Professional Associations and Trade Associations
• Community Based Development Organizations
• Municipal Governments
• Public Institution of Higher Learning (University)
• Administrative Agency or Department of Government of Puerto Rico (State Agencies)
• For Profit Entities as authorized under 24 C.F.R. § 570.201(o)

Importance of the WFT program

This Program will engage entities that train residents in industries that are expected to grow in the coming years; namely, tourism and hospitality, computer programming and technology, shipbuilding, manufacturing, and healthcare.   However, this is not an exhaustive list and all programs that train Puerto Ricans in meaningful sectors are encouraged to apply.

Through WFT, the sector of the economy most in need after Hurricanes Irma and Maria – citizens who are un- or underemployed – will have more access to training opportunities in the fields that will drive the economic recovery of Puerto Rico.