Notice of Funding Opportunity
State Agency Name: Iowa Workforce Development Funding Opportunity
Title: CDL Infrastructure Grant
Announcement Type: Initial
Assistance Listing Number (formerly CFDA Number): 21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
Important Dates
Deadline: Applications for the funds are due by September 25, 2023 by 2:00p.m. Central Time.
Webinar Date: Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) will host a webinar to provide additional information on Thursday, August 24, 11:00AM-12:00PM.
Application Notification: A Notice of Intent to Award will be posted on the following websites:
www.earnandlearniowa.gov
www.iowagrants.gov
https://www.futurereadyiowa.gov/
Program Description
Purpose
The purpose of this award is for the development and/or expansion of CDL Infrastructure in Iowa by providing funding for Iowa Community Colleges to help support the building, purchasing, or remodeling of their CDL training infrastructure. These infrastructures include construction and remodeling of facilities, purchasing of space for training, and/or equipment (trucks, simulators, monitoring devices, etc.).
With 72% of goods in America being moved by truck, in Iowa, there currently is a need for over 727 heavy and tractor-trailer drivers. Iowa Workforce Development is offering a grant to help support the growth of current or new CDL programs in Iowa.
Funding Priorities
Priority will be given to applicants with the ability to train and certify new and upgraded truck drivers continuously and in higher volumes. IWD will consider the location of applicants during the review process to ensure the geographic diversity of grantees.
Performance Measures
All applications must include performance measures that logically connect a project’s goal(s) with proposed activities, including but not limited to:
Demonstrating an overall change in the number of new and/or upgraded certified truck drivers.
Increased class size or number of classes offered Completion rate of classes and licensing Length of time per training Number of new and upgraded CDL drivers by endorsement type
Program Authority
IWD’s authority to award these grants may be found in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, (H.R.1319), as delegated by Governor Kim Reynolds pursuant to her authority under the same act.
Eligibility Information
Eligible applicants are public Community Colleges located in Iowa. Each Community College is eligible for one award only. IWD requires applicants for this grant to cultivate partnerships to fulfil project activities and outcomes.
Grantees must comply with all applicable provisions of state and federal laws pertaining to nondiscrimination, sexual harassment, and equal employment opportunity.
Community College must offer at least one:
Competency-based training courses and/or A training course that would allow someone to complete training and take the licensing exam within a 30-day window
Community College must agree to freeze CDL tuition for 5 years after the infrastructure project is completed.
Training must meet the minimum federal standards required for training that entry-level drivers must complete before being permitted to take certain commercial driver’s license (CDL) skills or knowledge tests.
Award Information Funding
Governor Kim Reynolds has reserved funding that Iowa received under the federal American Rescue Plan Act (H.R.1319) to award $5,000,000 million worth of grants under this Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Estimated Award Amount
IWD anticipates awarding maximum grants of up to $1 million with a 50% match. Funding decisions are made as funding is available, and IWD is not obligated to provide any requested amount.
Project and Award Period
Pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, (H.R.1319), funds received as part of this program must be entirely spent by June 30, 2025. Any funds not expended by that date, must be returned to IWD no later than December 15, 2025. Funding will need to be obligated by December 31, 2024
The funds for this award are provided by the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF), part of the American Rescue Plan. SLFRF requires that all costs be incurred during the period beginning March 3, 2021 and ending December 31, 2024. Therefore, all costs incurred prior to March 3, 2021 and after December 31, 2024 are not eligible uses of these funds. The period of performance for this program begins November 1, 2023 and ends June 30, 2025, which will provide recipients an additional six months during which they may expend funds for costs incurred (i.e., obligated) by December 31, 2024. Any award funds not obligated or expended within these timeframes must be returned to the State. Recipients of these funds will be held accountable to these funding timeframes.
Awardees must provide a detailed report of the progress of the project and the use of funds every quarter, beginning from the date the Memorandum of Understanding between the applicant and the State is fully executed.
Type of Award
IWD will award funds to successful applicants to carry out planned proposals. Any unexpended grant dollars must be returned to Iowa Workforce Development thereafter.
Use of Funds
As a condition of receiving the funds appropriated under this request for proposal (RFP), the subrecipient shall testify upon the request of any committee or subcommittee of the State of Iowa General Assembly regarding the expenditures of such funds.
Funds may be used for building, purchasing, or remodeling CDL training infrastructure.
Infrastructure includes: Construction and remodeling provided by 3rd party vendor. Purchasing of space for training Equipment (Trucks for training purposes, Simulators, Monitoring Devices, etc.)
All grant funds are administered as reimbursement only, and no advance payment options are available.
Additional Consideration
Additional consideration will be given to applicants as follows:
· Priority given to applicants with the ability to train and certify new and upgraded truck drivers continuously and in higher volumes.
· Additional points awarded for:
Programs that offer their facilities as a 3rd party testing location Competency-based training available Lower tuition rates
