Opportunity Information: Apply for FTA 2011 009 TRI
Apply for FTA 2011 009 TRI
- The DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Transit Workforce Development Program" 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 6, 2011 and posted on Jan 6, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 15, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Urban and rural transit agencies, state departments of transportation (DOTs) providing public transportation services, and Indian Tribes.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Innovative Transit Workforce Development Program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) designed to strengthen the public transportation workforce through new or clearly improved workforce development practices. The core idea is to fund practical, replicable approaches that push the field forward, meaning projects should not just be routine training expenses but should demonstrate an innovative method, model, product, or partnership that can improve how transit agencies attract, prepare, develop, and retain workers.
FTA set aside up to $1,000,000 total for this round of funding, to be awarded through cooperative agreements. Individual awards are expected to range from $50,000 (award floor) to $500,000 (award ceiling). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed, which can make participation more feasible for agencies and partners that may not have spare local funds to meet a match.
Projects must focus on one or more of four allowed activity areas. First, "tracked pre-employment training/preparation" refers to structured pathways that prepare candidates before they are hired, with some form of tracking or measurement of participant progress and outcomes. Second, "recruitment and hiring" covers efforts that improve how agencies find, attract, screen, and bring on new employees, especially in hard-to-fill roles. Third, "incumbent worker training and retention" supports upskilling and ongoing development for current employees, paired with strategies that keep workers in the field (for example, career ladders, mentorship, or improved qualification programs). Fourth, "succession planning/phased retirement" targets the reality that many agencies face an aging workforce and critical knowledge loss, so proposals can address leadership pipelines, knowledge transfer, and structured transition-to-retirement models that reduce operational risk.
Eligibility is aimed at organizations directly involved in providing public transportation services. Specifically, the opportunity identifies urban and rural transit agencies, state departments of transportation that provide public transportation services, and Indian Tribes as eligible applicants. A key requirement is that proposals must be supported by the primary applicant and at least one external partner. In other words, the program expects real collaboration beyond a single agency acting alone, such as partnerships with labor organizations, community colleges, universities, workforce boards, apprenticeship programs, nonprofits, or other stakeholders that can help design, deliver, and evaluate the workforce effort.
The selection emphasis is on proposals that result in products and approaches that improve the "state of the practice" in transit workforce development. That generally implies FTA is looking for efforts that can be documented, evaluated, and potentially shared or scaled by other agencies, rather than one-off internal initiatives. Funding may be used either to launch a brand-new innovative program or to add an innovative component to an existing workforce program, as long as the innovative element and expected improvements are clear.
For reference details from the notice: the funding opportunity number is FTA-2011-009-TRI, and it falls under CFDA 20.514 (Public Transportation Research). It was posted January 6, 2011, with an application deadline of March 15, 2011 (archived April 14, 2011). The listed contact for access issues and questions is Jarrett Stoltzfus, Transportation Program Specialist, at (202) 493-0361 or jarrett.stoltzfus@dot.gov, with TDD/FIRS available at 1-800-877-8339.
Innovative Transit Workforce Development Program (FTA) - FAQs
What is the Innovative Transit Workforce Development Program?
The Innovative Transit Workforce Development Program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA). It is designed to strengthen the public transportation workforce by supporting new or clearly improved workforce development practices that can be replicated by other agencies.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is to fund practical, innovative approaches that move the field forward. Projects are expected to go beyond routine training costs and instead demonstrate an innovative method, model, product, or partnership that improves how transit agencies attract, prepare, develop, and retain workers.
How much total funding is available?
FTA set aside up to $1,000,000 total for this round of funding.
What is the expected award size?
Individual awards are expected to range from $50,000 (award floor) to $500,000 (award ceiling).
What type of funding instrument will be used?
Funds are expected to be awarded through cooperative agreements.
Is there a cost share or matching requirement?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed in the information provided.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is aimed at organizations directly involved in providing public transportation services. Eligible applicants include:
- Urban transit agencies
- Rural transit agencies
- State departments of transportation that provide public transportation services
- Indian Tribes
Is a partnership required to apply?
Yes. Proposals must be supported by the primary applicant and at least one external partner. The program expects collaboration beyond a single agency acting alone.
What kinds of external partners are expected or allowed?
The opportunity anticipates partnerships with organizations that can help design, deliver, and evaluate workforce efforts. Examples listed include labor organizations, community colleges, universities, workforce boards, apprenticeship programs, nonprofits, or other stakeholders.
What types of projects will this program fund?
The program funds workforce development projects that introduce a new or clearly improved practice. The emphasis is on innovative and replicable approaches that can improve workforce outcomes for public transportation.
What does FTA mean by "innovative" in this program?
Innovation, in this context, means projects should not be routine training expenses. Instead, they should demonstrate an innovative method, model, product, or partnership that improves how agencies attract, prepare, develop, and retain workers, and that could be documented and shared with other agencies.
Can funding be used to start a brand-new program?
Yes. Funding may be used to launch a brand-new innovative workforce development program.
Can funding be used to improve an existing program?
Yes. Funding may also be used to add an innovative component to an existing workforce program, as long as the innovative element and expected improvements are clear.
What activity areas are allowed under this opportunity?
Projects must focus on one or more of four allowed activity areas:
- Tracked pre-employment training/preparation
- Recruitment and hiring
- Incumbent worker training and retention
- Succession planning/phased retirement
What is "tracked pre-employment training/preparation"?
This refers to structured pathways that prepare candidates before they are hired, with some form of tracking or measurement of participant progress and outcomes.
What is included in the "recruitment and hiring" activity area?
This activity area covers efforts that improve how agencies find, attract, screen, and bring on new employees, especially for hard-to-fill roles.
What is included in "incumbent worker training and retention"?
This area supports upskilling and ongoing development for current employees, paired with strategies designed to keep workers in the field. Examples mentioned include career ladders, mentorship, or improved qualification programs.
What is included in "succession planning/phased retirement"?
This activity area addresses the challenges of an aging workforce and potential knowledge loss. Proposals can focus on leadership pipelines, knowledge transfer, and structured transition-to-retirement models that reduce operational risk.
What is FTA looking for when selecting projects?
The selection emphasis is on proposals that produce products and approaches that improve the "state of the practice" in transit workforce development. This implies FTA is looking for efforts that can be documented, evaluated, and potentially shared or scaled by other agencies, rather than one-off internal initiatives.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is FTA-2011-009-TRI.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under CFDA 20.514 (Public Transportation Research).
When was this opportunity posted?
It was posted on January 6, 2011.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was March 15, 2011.
Is this opportunity archived?
Yes. It was archived on April 14, 2011.
Who can be contacted for access issues or questions?
The listed contact is Jarrett Stoltzfus, Transportation Program Specialist. Phone: (202) 493-0361. Email: jarrett.stoltzfus@dot.gov.
Is there a TDD/FIRS number available?
Yes. TDD/FIRS is available at 1-800-877-8339.
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