(1) There is created the skilled worker outreach, recruitment, and key training grant review committee, also referred to as the "WORK grant review committee". The grant review committee consists of thirteen members appointed by the council as follows:
A representative from the department, who shall chair the grant review committee;
A representative from the Colorado office of economic development;
A representative from the department of higher education, created in section 24-1114, C.R.S.;
Two members from business, trade, or professional organizations in the state thatrepresent industries with specific work force needs as identified in the annual Colorado talent report;
Two members from labor organizations that represent industries with specific workforce needs as identified in the annual Colorado talent report;
Two representatives from apprenticeship programs;
Two members from institutions of higher education that offer state-accredited careerand technical education;
One member who represents a subcontractors' trade association; and(i) One member of the council.
(2) (a) The grant review committee shall establish criteria for ranking eligible applicants for matching grant awards. Among the criteria, the grant review committee shall consider and rank eligible applicants based on which eligible applicants have:
(I) The highest potential to:
Reach a broad audience through their recruitment and outreach efforts;
Significantly increase enrollment in and completion of their skilled worker trainingprogram; and
Fill existing needs for skilled workers in the market; and
(II) Partnered with industry to provide training programs targeted at training and providing skilled workers who can perform jobs in that industry and demonstrated positive outcomes.
(b) In developing criteria under paragraph (a) of this subsection (2), the grant review committee shall give priority to eligible applicants that:
Will provide outreach, recruitment, or training in areas that are listed as key industries or key industry jobs in the annual Colorado talent report; and
Have demonstrated the following, prioritized in the following order:
That the eligible applicant will provide monetary contributions from its own resources;
That the eligible applicant has contributed its own resources in the form of monetaryor in-kind matching contributions;
That the eligible applicant has secured an industry partner; or
That the eligible applicant has secured from an industry partner a monetary or inkind contribution or conditional job placement guarantees or that the industry partner has contributed other meaningful investment in skilled worker training programs.
(c) (I) After reviewing the grant applications and subject to subsection (2)(c)(II) of this section, the grant review committee shall make recommendations about which eligible applicants should be awarded matching grants and the amounts of the matching grants. Recommendations shall be based on the committee's determination as to which eligible applicants best satisfy the grant criteria pursuant to subsections (2)(a) and (2)(b) of this section. The grant review committee shall submit its recommendations to the executive committee of the council, which includes the executive directors of the departments of labor and employment and higher education and the director of the office. After considering the grant review committee's recommendations and subject to subsection (2)(c)(II) of this section, the executive committee shall determine to whom and in what amounts to award matching grants. Except as provided in section 8-83-304 (2)(b), grants shall be awarded within ninety days, but no later than the April 1 following the application submittal deadline, and, to the extent possible, the department shall issue the grant awards within forty-five days after notifying the award recipients of the grant awards.
(II) For the 2018-19 and 2019-20 state fiscal years, the grant review committee shall ensure, to the extent possible, that it recommends matching grant amounts, and the executive directors and director of the office shall ensure, to the extent possible, that they award matching grants, in accordance with the allocation of available money in the WORK fund specified in section 8-83-307 (3)(b).
Source: L. 2015: Entire part added, (HB 15-1276), ch. 225, p. 833, § 1, effective May 26. L. 2018: IP(1), (1)(i), and (2)(c) amended, (HB 18-1316), ch. 241, p. 1499, § 3, effective May 24. L. 2020: (2)(c) amended, (HB 20-1395), ch. 137, p. 592, § 2, effective June 26.
Editor's note: Section 8-83-307.5 provides for the repeal of this section, effective September 30, 2021.