The CCNW is led by workforce and education to enhance and promote Career Connected Learning in the five-county region.

The following key organizations are represented in the Advisory Board and Coordinating Team:

• Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC)
• Northwest Educational Service District 189 (NWESD)
• Northwest Workforce Council
• Snohomish STEM Network
• Workforce Snohomish

CCNW Regional Leadership/Coordinating Team:

• Jenny Veltri, CCNW Co-Director and STEM/Career Connected Learning Director, NWESD
• Sinead Fitzpatrick Plagge, CCNW Co-Director and STEM/Career Connected Learning Administrator, NWESD
• Alyssa Jackson, CCNW Co-Director and Snohomish STEM Network Director, EASC
• Mary Powers, Career Connected Learning Specialist, NWESD
• Donovan Tate, Career Connected Learning Specialist, NWESD
• Megan Benzing, Career Connected Learning Specialist, EASC

The Career Connect Washington Framework provides students introductory information about career options and opportunities hands-on experiences in various fields. Students then have access to focused training and intense preparation to ensure they have essential skills in the workplace. This framework includes three types of programming: Career Explore, Career Prep, and Career Launch. Explore the Career Explore, Career Prep, and Career Launch programs in the statewide directory.

CCW Grant & Funding Opportunities

Round 3: CCW Apprenticeship Building America Funding: Anticipated Opening  April 1, 2024

The Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD), on behalf of Career Connect Washington (CCW), is conducting a Request for Proposals (RFP) for CCW Apprenticeship Building America Program Builder Funding. We seek proposals from highly qualified entities capable of creating, expanding, or enhancing Registered Apprenticeship and Recognized Pre-apprenticeship programs in Washington’s high-demand and high-growth industry sectors.

Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) is a grant from the US Department of Labor to strengthen, modernize, expand, and diversify Registered Apprenticeship programs to enable more workers to earn while they learn and find reliable pathways to the middle class. The ABA grant program will help to further strengthen and modernize Washington’s nationally-recognized apprenticeship system. It will increase equity and accessibility for under-represented populations and bring the Registered Apprenticeship model to more employers in Washington’s high-demand industries. ESD shares the CCW vision that every young adult in Washington will have multiple pathways toward economic self-sufficiency and fulfillment, strengthened by a comprehensive statewide system for career connected learning. Apprenticeships have been the pathway to the middle class for generations of skilled workers in Washington – and ESD is proud to partner with CCW, the Department of Labor & Industries, the US Department of Labor, and Washington’s apprenticeship community on this Apprenticeship Building America grant.

ESD has made approximately $2,965,421.90 of federal Apprenticeship Building America funds available for this opportunity. ESD targets $100,000 – $150,000 per award. ESD expects performance periods will begin in Q3 2024 and end by Q2 2026.

Bids are due June 28, 2024, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. The RFP can be accessed via the Washington Electronic Business Solutions (WEBS) system beginning April 1, 2024 (RFP #2024-03). Bidders are responsible for downloading the solicitation document and all appendices and incorporated documents. Questions can be directed to Procurement Coordinators Jennifer Watson and Kiva Nguyen (esdgpbids@esd.wa.gov).

Career Connect Washington partners and stakeholders are encouraged to share this announcement broadly with any and all potential bidders.

Items of Note

• *Notice of Intent to Bid*
  • A Notice of Intent to Bid is required. This is mandatory and due before the proposal The Notice of Intent to Bid is due April 30, and the Proposal is due June 28.
• *Registered Apprenticeships and Recognized Pre-apprenticeships*
  • The funding opportunity is only for Program Builders who will create, expand, and enhance Registered Apprenticeships and Recognized Pre-apprenticeship programs in Washington’s high-demand and high-growth industry sectors.
  • The CCW ABA Program Builder RFP provides distinct funds tailored to the unique needs of Program Builders developing, expanding, and enhancing Registered Apprenticeships and Recognized Pre-apprenticeships. Successful bidders will receive bespoke technical assistance from ESD, the Department of Labor & Industries, and the US Department of Labor.
  • This funding opportunity is aligned with CCW statewide sector strategies developed by our ten CCW Sector Leaders.

CCW ABA Program Builder Timeline & Activities:

• Bidders’ Conference: April 8, 2024  10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Zoom Link ABA Round 3 Bidders conference
• Notice of Intent to Bid Due: April 30, 2024 – 5:00 PM
• Proposals Due: June 28, 2024, at 5:00 PM
• Anticipated Announcement of Successful Bidders: August 2024

Grant Information:

Eligible Applicants: Entities interested in performing the role of Program Builder and working with Regional Networks, Career Connected Learning Coordinators at the Educational Service Districts, Sector Leaders, labor, employers, and education partners to expand, strengthen, and modernize Washington’s nationally recognized apprenticeship system in high-demand and high-growth industry sectors.

Funding: $2,965 421.90 of federal Apprenticeship Building America funds are available. ESD targets $100,000 – $150,000 per award.

Period of Performance: Estimated at 18 months, September 2024 through March 2026.

Allowable Costs:
Funds to be used to design and qualify Registered Apprenticeship and Recognized Pre-apprenticeship programs for approval from Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council. Funds may not be used for direct instruction, direct services, or wrap-around supports. Participants, as defined by USDOL, cannot be served with these funds.

Funding will support program development costs and may include employer incentives per USDOL restrictions.
Allowable budget categories may include the following, provided costs are attributable to contract activities:

• Staff Salaries
• Staff Benefits
• Costs for outreach to business and education partners;
• Travel directly related to program development;
• Supplies
• Contracts for curriculum development
• Employer incentives (conditions apply)
• Equipment (conditions apply)

*Career Connect Washington & Washington Employment Security Department Apprenticeship Building America efforts receive support and funding from a U.S. Department of Labor Category 4 Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) grant.

CCNW Regional Network Assistance: The Career Connect NW Regional Network offers technical assistance to businesses, community organizations and educational partners in the application process. As you think about next steps and the possibility of applying, here are suggested next steps:

• Become familiar with the grant announcement
• Review the CCW Connected Learning Framework of Career Explore, Career Prep, and Career Launch
• Review the RFPs in the WEBS system (Washington Electronic Business Solutions (WEBS)).
• Register for an information session provided by the CCNW Network – dates provided once grant RFPs are released.

CCW Program Builder Funding 

Career Connect Washington (CCW) Round 12 of Program Builder Funding closed December 1, 2024. We anticipate the next round of CCW program builder funding in the later spring/summer of 2024.

More about this opportunity: The Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) has conducted 12 Request for Proposals (RFP) for CCW Program Builder Funding over the last several years. They seek proposals from highly qualified entities capable of building or expanding Career Launch, Career Prep, and Career Explore programs. To develop industry-aligned programs for Career Connected Learning (CCL) opportunities in targeted counties and industry sectors.

Our vision is that every young adult in Washington will have multiple pathways toward economic self-sufficiency and fulfillment, strengthened by a comprehensive state-wide system for career connected learning. In order for every young adult to succeed, we must intentionally focus on populations kept furthest from opportunity, especially students of color, Indigenous students, low-income students, rural students, and students with disabilities. Women- and BIPOC-led organizations and organizations specifically serving young people of color and people with lived experience in historically marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

*Registered Apprenticeships and Recognized Pre-apprenticeships should fully explore applying for the Apprenticeship Building America opportunities as they become available.

Grant Information:

• Eligible Applicants: Entities interested in performing the role of Program Builder and working with Regional Networks, Career Connected Learning Coordinators at the Educational Service Districts, and industry and education partners to expand the use of current curricula or develop new curricula for Career Launch, Career Prep, or Career Explore programs.
• Funding: ESD targets award amount for each grant is  $100,000 – $175,000, No single award will exceed $250,000.
• Period of Performance: Estimated at 16 months
• Allowable Costs:
  Funding will support program development costs and will not support enrollments, wrap-around services, instruction, or direct participant recruitment.
  Allowable budget categories may include the following, provided costs are attributable to contract activities: Staff Salaries; Staff Benefits; Costs for outreach to business and education partners; Travel directly related to program development; Supplies; and Contracts for curriculum development.

CCNW Regional Network Assistance: The Career Connect NW Regional Network offers technical assistance to businesses, community organizations and educational partners in the application process. As you think about next steps and the possibility of applying, here are suggested next steps:

• Become familiar with the grant announcement
• Review the CCW Connected Learning Framework of Career Explore, Career Prep, and Career Launch
• Review the RFPs in the WEBS system (Washington Electronic Business Solutions (WEBS)).
• Register for an information session provided by the CCNW Network – dates provided once grant RFPs are released.

Round 12 of CCW Program Builders Selected

We are excited to announce the twelfth round of Career Connect Washington Program Builders, who bridge the connection between industry and educators to create and scale Career Launch, Registered Apprenticeship, Career Prep, Recognized Pre-Apprenticeship, and Career Explore programs. Thank you to all applicants for their submissions and the hard work they put forward to develop application materials.

We want to first congratulate the applicants in our NW region who were selected:

• Skagit Legal Aid – New Career Launch in Language Interpreter (Skagit)
• Whatcom Community College – New Career Launch in Healthcare (Whatcom, Skagit, Island, Snohomish)

Congratulations also to these additional statewide awardees:

• Washington State University – New Career Launch in Healthcare (Stevens)
• Puget Sound Educational School District – New Career Launch in Education (King)
• Walla Walla Public Schools – New Career Launch in Construction (Walla Walla)
• Northwest Maritime Center – New Career Launch in Maritime (King)
• Thriving Together NCW – New Career Launch in Behavioral Health (Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Okanogan, Adams)
• Vancouver Public Schools – New Career Launch in Maritime (Clark)
• Vann Studio Salon – New Career Launch in Cosmetology (King, Pierce)

We look forward to continuing our work with you to build career connected learning programs for Washington students.

To receive updates on future funding rounds and important Career Connect Washington announcements, all are welcome to sign up here.

Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) Round 2 Grantees Selected

We would like to extend our congratulations to the applicants who were selected:

• Pacific Northwest Ironworkers – New Pre-Registered for Metal Trades | Construction Sector
• Pre-Employment Preparation Program (PEPP) – Expanding Pre-Apprenticeship for Construction Trades | Construction Sector
• Skillspire – New Pre-Apprenticeship for Platform Security | Cybersecurity & IT Sector

For additional information on the selection process, please review the ABA Round 2 Executive Summary: Apprenticeship Building America Round 2

To receive updates on future funding rounds and important Career Connect Washington announcements, all are welcome to sign up HERE.

Career Connect Washington Past Northwest Region Program Builder Awardees include the following:

• AGC Education Foundation – Career Prep in Construction (Statewide)
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County – Career Explore in Advanced Manufacturing, Energy, and Healthcare
• Boys & Girls Club of Snohomish County – Career Explore in healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing (Snohomish)
• Coding for All – Career Explore in information technology (Snohomish)
• Computing for All – Career Launch Cloud Computing
• Eat on the Wild Side – Career Launch in maritime (Statewide)
• Edmonds College – Career Launch in healthcare (Snohomish)
• Foundation for Academic Endeavors – Career Prep in Education
• HopeWorks Social Enterprises – Career Launch in Education (Snohomish)
• Mukilteo School District (Sno-Isle Tech) – Career Prep in Aerospace/Advanced Manufacturing/Health Sciences/Information Technology/Human Services (Snohomish)
• Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association – Career Launch Restoration and Education Certificate Pathways (Whatcom)
• Nooksack Valley School District – Career Explore in advanced multiple industries (Whatcom)
• Northwest Alliance for College Access/FuturesNW – Career Explore in Advanced Manufacturing/Healthcare/Construction
• Pacific Education Institute – Career Prep in Natural Resources
• Pacific Shellfish Institute – Enhancing Career Explore in Aquaculture
• San Juan Islands Conservation District – Career Launch Restoration Ecology
• Skagit Valley College – Career Launch Manufacturing Technology
• Sustainable Connections/Cloud Mountain Farm Center – Career Explore in Agriculture (Whatcom/Skagit)
• Vamos Outdoor Project – Career Launch Education and Social Services
• Washington State University – Career Explore in Data Science
• Western Washington University – Career Launch Sustainability
• Western Washington University – Career Prep in Green Economy
• Whatcom Community College – Career Launch Behavioral Health
• Whatcom Working Waterfront – Career Launch Registered Apprenticeship in Maritime

Career Connect Washington Northwest Region hosted at the NWESD189 serves 35 school districts, which includes 440+ schools and 165K students in Skagit, Whatcom, Snohomish, San Juan, and Island counties. One of our main goals is to create programs that make it easier for businesses and schools to connect. By facilitating strong partnerships between our schools and businesses, we can help students explore different career pathways and increase their readiness to enter high wage, high demand careers in our communities.

Our work is data-informed and strategically focused on building equitable student access, increasing system capacity, and positive outcomes for students.