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The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is pleased to announce a competitive grant solicitation for Grantee(s) to develop new or strengthen existing workforce training and development programs and training curriculum for Zero-Emission Vehicle technologies for the Adult Education & Vocational School Zero-Emission Vehicle Technology Training Project (Project) under the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives (Funding Plan). On November 19, 2021, the Board approved a $1.5 million allocation toward Workforce Training and Development projects with a focus on supporting job training and career development from adult education and vocational schools.
CARB’s goal under this Solicitation is to increase priority population, including low-income and disadvantaged communities, awareness of and access to Zero-Emission Vehicle specific training, education, and jobs for individuals opting to follow a non-traditional educational (i.e., not a 4-year university or community college) pathway.
The Project is intended to support access to relevant clean transportation employers and high-road jobs that prepare students for careers in the clean transportation technology sector. Supporting adult education and vocational school programs fills a key gap identified in community discussions to fund educational programs outside of the community college system, where funding has been provided from state programs. CARB aims to create opportunities for building and expanding zero-emission skills to support the shift to a clean transportation economy.
Projects funded under this Solicitation must benefit an existing program within a California-based, accredited, non-profit adult education or vocational school and support new or expand existing zero-emission vehicle technology training elements that lead to job and career advancement for priority populations. Programs should focus on working with and enrolling students from priority populations. All work must be completed, and the CARB approved final report must be submitted to CARB by March 31, 2026.
This competitive solicitation is only open to California-based, accredited, non-profit, adult education or vocational school institutions. Education and workforce training entities and organizations supporting zero-emission vehicle and electric vehicle charging and fueling equipment education and workforce development may partner with adult education or vocational school institutions.
Applications must be submitted via email to Danny.Luu@arb.ca.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. (PDT), Friday, October 27, 2023.
Applicant Zoom Conference
CARB will hold one Applicant Zoom Conference, at which time staff will be available to answer questions potential applicants may have regarding eligibility, application completion, and other requirements.
Date: September 6, 2023
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (PDT)
Interested parties may email questions prior to the Applicant Zoom Conference. Staff will not respond to questions regarding this solicitation via email, but will instead collect all questions submitted and respond during the Applicant Zoom Conference. Staff also will not respond to new questions after the Conference has taken place. All answers provided during the Conference are draft; the questions emailed in advance and the questions and answers provided during the Applicant Zoom Conference will be reviewed and a final response will be posted on the CARB grant solicitations webpage by September 21, 2023.
Background
Several key pieces of legislation provide the overall policy framework and funding to support this Project.
In 2012, the legislature passed, and Governor Brown signed into law three bills – Assembly Bill (AB) 1532 (Pérez, Chapter 807, Statutes of 2012), SB 535 (De León, Chapter 830, Statutes of 2012), and SB 1018 (Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, Chapter 39, Statutes of 2012) that established the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to receive Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds and to provide the framework for how the auction proceeds will be administered to further the purposes of AB 32 (Nunez, Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006). Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds have been appropriated to CARB for Low Carbon Transportation projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with an emphasis on investments that benefit the State’s disadvantaged communities. Per statute, these funds must be used to further the purposes of AB 32. CARB’s Low Carbon Transportation investments build upon and greatly expand existing advanced technology and clean transportation programs, which provide mobile source incentives to reduce criteria pollutant, air toxic, and GHG emissions.
In 2015, the Governor passed the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act (SB 350, De León, Chapter 547, Statutes of 2015) that established new clean energy, clean air, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals for 2030 and beyond. In addition to GHG reduction targets across the energy and transportation sectors, SB 350 directed CARB to examine the barriers low-income residents must overcome to access clean transportation and mobility options and develop recommendations for how to increase access.
In 2018, CARB released the SB 350 Guidance Document identifying the main barriers low-income residents and disadvantaged and tribal communities face in accessing clean transportation and mobility options, including recommendations to overcome these barriers. The fifth priority recommendation addresses barriers to maximizing economic opportunities and benefits for low-income residents from investments in clean transportation and mobility options by expanding workforce training and development. This solicitation supports this key need in communities to support projects that demonstrate local economic benefits for priority populations such as connections to good quality clean transportation jobs and training opportunities.
In 2020, the Governor passed the Energy: Transportation Electrification: Energy Efficiency Programs: School Energy Efficiency Stimulus Program (AB 841, Ting, Chapter 372, Statutes of 2020) mandating all electric vehicle charging infrastructure and equipment located on the customer side of the electric meter, funded or authorized, in whole or in part by CARB, the Energy Commission, or the Public Utilities Commission shall be installed by a contractor holding “the appropriate license classification as determined by the Contractors’ State License Board.” The bill supports statewide transportation electrification and creates high-quality job opportunities for disadvantaged communities by increasing the demand for skilled workers to implement the work.
Contact
If you have any questions regarding Adult Education & Vocational School Zero-Emission Vehicle Technology Training Project or the Applicant Zoom Conference, please contact Danny Luu, Air Pollution Specialist.
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