Partner4Work announces $8.5 million in funding opportunities for adult, youth workforce development programs

PITTSBURGH — Partner4Work (P4W) has released $8.5 million in funding opportunities for organizations that provide workforce services for adults, young adults, and dislocated workers in the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.  P4W launched its request for proposals (RFP) process on Wednesday; proposals are due in February.

"It’s no secret that the region’s facing a looming supply-demand gap and we need to make strategic investments today to ensure our region’s businesses continue to prosper tomorrow,” said Earl Buford, P4W chief executive officer. “We know we need to be flexible and nimble to find creative solutions and open doors to opportunity for all. We are looking for partners who are ready to roll up their sleeves and work with us to meet the needs of the business community and help people on the path to meaningful careers.”

The funding opportunities released include:

• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Adult and Dislocated Worker One-Stop Programs: As much as $2.2 million for a primary provider(s) to provide adult and dislocated worker services through PA CareerLink®, the one-stop career system in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Employment Advancement and Retention Network (EARN): As much $3 million for case management, career services, supportive services, training services, and job placement and retention services for TANF clients in Allegheny County.
• Youth (WIOA and TANF): As much as $3.3 million for organizations experience in serving in-school (ages 14-24) and out-of-school youth (16-24).

The base contract year for all programs is July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020, with three subsequent option years, exercised at the discretion of Partner4Work.

P4W’s current portfolio of providers includes one WIOA Title I Adult/Dislocated Worker contractor; three TANF EARN contractors; 14 youth contractors. About 15,000 people are served annually with the federal funds.

The release of the solicitations, found in entirety at www.partner4work.org, comes on the heels of two public information sessions held in partnership with the Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition. The sessions were held on Dec. 4 Downtown and Dec. 18 in McKeesport; more than 120 representatives of workforce service providers and community-based organizations attended the sessions.

"Workforce development boards like P4W cannot succeed without a network of partners. We need organizations to step up, dig in and collaborate to prepare current and future workers to meet employer demand. Bring your voice, your ideas, and your strengths to the workforce development ecosystem,” Buford said.

Proposal submissions are due by 5 p.m. EST on Feb. 4, 2019. Potential bidders are encouraged, though not required, to attend bidders’ conferences: WIOA Adult/Dislocated Worker One-Stop, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 9, TANF EARN, 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Jan. 9, and Youth, 10 to 11 a.m. Jan. 10. Conferences will be held Centre City Tower, Suite 2600, 650 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.