Opportunity Information: Apply for FTA 2015 001 TRI
Apply for FTA 2015 001 TRI
- The DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program (Ladders of Opportunity Initiative)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.514 Public Transportation Research, Technical Assistance, and Training.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 28, 2014 and posted on Oct 28, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 23, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $9,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: County governments Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments State governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
- Metropolitan Planning Organizations are also eligible to apply.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program (Ladders of Opportunity Initiative) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration (FTA), designed to strengthen the public transportation workforce through innovative training and career development efforts. The program focuses on creating and expanding workforce development models that are nationally or regionally significant, with the larger goal of supporting economic growth and building clear pathways into stable, middle-class careers for American workers. In practice, this means funding projects that help people enter, advance, or transition within the transit industry through structured training, skills development, and career ladder programs that can be replicated or scaled beyond a single employer or community.
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which generally indicates a more hands-on partnership between the federal government and the award recipient than a standard grant. The total estimated funding available is approximately $9,000,000. Individual awards are expected to range from $200,000 (award floor) to $1,000,000 (award ceiling), meaning the program is set up to support multiple projects of meaningful size rather than a single large national award. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, so applicants are expected to contribute non-federal resources toward the project, which can strengthen proposals that show strong local or regional commitment and buy-in from partners.
The opportunity is tied to CFDA 20.514, Public Transportation Research, Technical Assistance, and Training, aligning it with activities that improve transit performance through training, technical assistance, and workforce capacity building. The eligibility list is broad and includes state governments, county and city/township governments, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, and a range of nonprofit and higher education entities (including both public and private institutions of higher education, as well as nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status). Metropolitan Planning Organizations are also explicitly eligible. This wide eligibility signals that FTA is encouraging partnerships across transit agencies, education providers, workforce organizations, and government entities to build comprehensive programs that respond to real workforce needs in public transportation.
Key timeline details from the notice show the opportunity was posted on October 28, 2014, with an application deadline of December 23, 2014, and an archive date of January 22, 2015. The funding opportunity number is FTA-2015-001-TRI. The listing also directs applicants to FTA’s current notices of funding availability for additional official information and provides a contact for help accessing the full announcement: Betty Jackson, Workforce Development Program Manager in the Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation at FTA.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program (Ladders of Opportunity Initiative)?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration (FTA), aimed at strengthening the public transportation workforce through innovative training and career development efforts.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The program supports projects that create or expand workforce development models that are nationally or regionally significant. The broader goal is to support economic growth and build clear pathways into stable, middle-class careers for American workers within the public transportation industry.
What kinds of projects does the program fund?
The program funds workforce development efforts such as structured training, skills development initiatives, and career ladder programs that help people enter, advance, or transition within the transit industry. The emphasis is on models that can be replicated or scaled beyond a single employer or community.
What does "Ladders of Opportunity" mean in this context?
Based on the description provided, it refers to career pathway and career ladder approaches that help workers move into public transportation jobs and progress into more advanced roles through training and development.
Is this funding a standard grant?
No. Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which generally indicates a more hands-on partnership between the federal government and the award recipient than a standard grant.
How much total funding is available?
The total estimated funding available is approximately $9,000,000.
What is the expected award size?
Individual awards are expected to range from $200,000 (award floor) to $1,000,000 (award ceiling).
Does the program support multiple awards?
Yes. With a total estimated amount of about $9,000,000 and an award range of $200,000 to $1,000,000, the opportunity is set up to support multiple projects rather than a single large national award.
Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants are expected to contribute non-federal resources toward the project.
Why does the matching requirement matter for applicants?
The notice indicates that proposals can be strengthened by demonstrating strong local or regional commitment and buy-in from partners through non-federal contributions.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA 20.514, Public Transportation Research, Technical Assistance, and Training.
How does CFDA 20.514 relate to the types of activities funded?
As described, the CFDA alignment indicates a focus on activities that improve transit performance through training, technical assistance, and workforce capacity building.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligibility list is broad and includes state governments; county governments; city or township governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); public and private institutions of higher education; and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs).
Are Tribal entities eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included as eligible applicants.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Both public and private institutions of higher education are included as eligible entities.
Are Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) eligible?
Yes. MPOs are explicitly listed as eligible.
Does the program encourage partnerships?
Yes. The broad eligibility signals that FTA is encouraging partnerships across transit agencies, education providers, workforce organizations, and government entities to build comprehensive programs that respond to real workforce needs in public transportation.
When was this funding opportunity posted?
The notice indicates it was posted on October 28, 2014.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline listed is December 23, 2014.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed is January 22, 2015.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is FTA-2015-001-TRI.
Where should applicants look for additional official information?
The listing directs applicants to FTA's current notices of funding availability for additional official information.
Who is the contact person for help accessing the full announcement?
The contact listed is Betty Jackson, Workforce Development Program Manager in the Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation at FTA.
What office at FTA is associated with the program contact?
The contact is identified as being within the Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation at the Federal Transit Administration.
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