Nola Reporter

NEW ORLEANS — The Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development (OWD) today released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for organizations to develop programs that build a sustainable workforce for the next generation.

The project, entitled Investments in Workforce Development, is funded by $7.4 million of the City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation. Through ARPA, the City of New Orleans has committed $194 million to fund priority projects that meet the needs of our community, strengthen our local social safety net and build a safer, healthier community for the future. The deadline to apply for the available funding is Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.  A virtual information session will be held for interested applicants on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024.

“The future of our economy relies on a competitive, knowledgeable and highly skilled workforce,” said OWD Director Sunae Villavaso. “This NOFA will enhance our goal of supporting organizations in developing programs that empower individuals negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with the skills, certifications and support necessary to embark on career trajectories with family-sustaining wages that bolster their long term social and economic mobility.”

Areas targeted for investment include but are not limited to:

• Programs that provide opportunities and pathways for youth and young adult workforce development
• Programs that support and enhance New Orleans’ growing green infrastructure, sustainability and resilience industries
• Programs that develop and build on New Orleans' rich history of cultural and performing arts
• Support for individuals with barriers to employment, such as transportation, financial literacy or identification and documentation challenges
• Support for current and future educators to access the training and certification
• Programs that upskill, retrain and support workers for in-demand jobs

The City encourages innovative and impactful proposals beyond those enumerated above that enhance the employment prospects for our community now and in the future.

For further information and updates on the City's ARPA investments and initiatives, please visit the official website at nola.gov/arpa/. 

The Investments in Workforce Development application is available starting today, Jan. 8, on OWD’s website at: nola.gov/workforce-development/.

Original source can be found here.