A digest of infrastructure news and funding opportunities. 

The What Works Plus (WW+) funder collaborative is a partnership coordination hub across philanthropy, government, and nonprofits to advance equity and climate resilience through thoughtful implementation of historic federal infrastructure funding.

OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH WW+

A snapshot of learning events and high-impact federal infrastructure funding implementation-related opportunities in need of philanthropic support. If you would like more information about the following opportunities, contact info@whatworksplus.com.

Funding Opportunity: The Texas Climate Jobs Project

The Gap: The Texas clean energy industry is booming, but there is a significant research gap in understanding workforce job quality metrics and a strong need to build worker power in this part of the Texas construction industry. Federal safety data indicates a Texas construction worker dies once every three days due to unsafe working conditions, and Texas is the only state that does not require workers’ compensation insurance coverage. Additionally, many workers are unable to access apprenticeship programs, experience wage theft, are misclassified as independent contractors, and are temporarily employed through staffing agencies.

The Opportunity: The Texas Climate Jobs Project’s “Data Analysis of Job Quality” proposal focuses on conducting a statewide survey of active solar and wind construction project workers across the state. This research would help inform the decisions federal, state, and local policymakers are making that are shaping Texas’ clean energy industry. Furthermore, The Texas Climate Jobs Project would continue long-term organizing with survey respondents about accessing apprenticeship and craft training programs, and advocate for public policy that raises working conditions in the industry. You can watch a video on The Texas Climate Jobs Project’s impact, and read the full proposal here.

You’re Invited!: Reimagining Job Quality Measurement

The Families and Workers Fund, in partnership with the Irvine Foundation, Lumina Foundation, Ford Foundation, Omidyar Network, and the U.S. Department of Labor, invites you to join a virtual convening on Tuesday, November 8th at 12pm ET to learn more about the Job Quality Measurement Initiative (JQMI). This event will launch the initiative’s new, comprehensive report on 10 big, bold ideas on how government, industry, and academia can better measure the quality of jobs and help to drive better economic outcomes. Register for the webinar here.

OCTOBER SPOTLIGHT: NEWS FROM CORE MEMBERS & FRIENDS

Have a notable infrastructure-related investment, partnership or event coming up? Let us know at info@whatworksplus.com and we’ll feature next month.

• WW+ was proud to collaborate with Brookings Metro and Living Cities on the “Using Procurement to Create Inclusive Local Economies: The Power and Limits of Purchasing to Expand Business Opportunity, Create Good Jobs, and Close Racial Wealth Gaps” webinar this month. You can watch a recording of the event here. 

• The Kresge Foundation announced $7 million in social investments to strengthen solar projects in low-income, underserved communities. The three organizations receiving these funds include Collective Energy, RE-volv, and the Working Power Impact Fund, a subsidiary of Urban Ingenuity.

• The Families and Workers Fund and Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program released an evidence-based, shared definition of job quality set forth  by over 100 leaders from business, labor, policy, philanthropy, academia, and workforce development. 

• The Surdna Foundation announced Patrice R. Green as Director of the Inclusive Economies Program, where she will oversee investment in good quality jobs for communities of color.  

INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS UPDATES

A snapshot of this month’s key infrastructure news. 

Announcements From The White House:

• The White House released an Action Plan for Accelerating Infrastructure Projects to support a more efficient delivery of infrastructure across the country. The plan focuses on efforts that will accelerate project planning, design, procurement and construction, and keep infrastructure projects “On Time, On Task, and On Budget.”

Climate:

• “Charging Deserts” in low-income regions and communities of color are of concern as investments for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure skyrocket due to Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding. Because charging stations have historically been located in mostly wealthier and predominantly white urban areas, advocates are calling on policy makers to consider racial and wealth equity when implementing EV charging infrastructure.  

• Through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), coastal counties will receive $2.6 billion over five years to fund climate resilience projects. Advocates are calling for implementation of nature-based infrastructure solutions (also known as “green infrastructure”) to protect coastal communities, such as adding sand bars or restoring dunes to buffer receding shorelines. 

• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $2.8 billion in BIL grants to 20 companies across 12 states to expand domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles and the electrical grid. These investments seek to advance the Biden administration’s clean energy goals, strengthen America’s energy independence, and create good-paying jobs.

Broadband:

• The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is in the process of reviewing more than 235 applications submitted to “Internet for All” Middle Mile Grant Program, which provides $1 billion in funding for affordable, high speed internet. Awards will be granted on a rolling basis no earlier than March 2023.

• Next Century Cities released a report outlining a set of recommendations to help the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) increase community outreach and local participation in future broadband policy-making. Recommendations include “fully staffing the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, increasing participation in Commission advisory groups, and making informative materials about how to file comments more accessible to local government officials.”

Transportation:

• The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the Thriving Communities Program, which will provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support to disadvantaged communities that lack the staffing or technical expertise to compete for federal funding and deliver quality infrastructure projects that advance community goals. Communities looking to receive support must submit a letter of interest by December 6th, 2022, and organizations interested in providing support as “capacity builders” must apply by November 22nd, 2022.

Good Jobs & Procurement:

• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced four recommended ways for philanthropic partners to support  Community Benefit Agreements that will foster innovation and economic revitalization in underserved communities. Possible roles for philanthropic partners include: a) supporting local capacity to develop plans for economic revitalization and job creation, b) supporting technical assistance to communities to apply for state or federal funding, c) supporting capacity to manage federal grants, and d) providing strategic advice to organizations and communities. 

New Resources:

• The Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) has created the Funding Navigator to help utilities serving overburdened communities seek and secure public funds for water infrastructure.

• Several reports  analyzing the opportunities offered by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have recently been released, including: 

  • The Just Solutions Collective’s analysis, which focuses on the environmental justice provisions in the IRA.

  • BlueGreen Alliance’s user guide, which examines the IRA’s plans to advance good jobs, climate action, and building healthy and resilient communities. 

  • America Is All In’s report, which highlights the ways in which state, tribal and local governments can maximize and build on the impact of the IRA to accelerate the goal of halving U.S. emissions by 2030. 

• The Just Transition Fund launched the Federal Access Center to support non-profit organizations seeking federal grants to advance projects related to clean energy workforce development, economic diversification, and broadband access and affordability in coal communities. To receive support from the center, community organizations can complete this interest form. 

WW+ Infrastructure Bulletin: October Edition