The Pools Special Initiative (PSI) Lifeguard Training Initiative is a partnership between the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) and the Colorado Workforce Development Council housed in the Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) with $108,000 and $150,000 in funding respectively. Funds come from the Colorado state severance tax on energy and mineral production (EIAF) and the statewide innovation funds through the federal Workforce Innovation & Opportunity ACT (WIOA). This initiative supports counties, municipalities and special districts that operate public pools or public swimming beaches to provide lifeguard certification or recertification and lifeguard training certification or recertification for individuals and improve the quality of life in Colorado communities. A total of $258,000 is available statewide for this Initiative.
Eligibility
- All local governments with public pools or public swimming beaches
Funding
- $258,000 available
- Minimum request: $1,000
- Maximum request: $20,000
- No local match requirements
- Application opens on Monday, May 15 and closes on Friday, May 19 at 5:00 p.m.
- Awards will be made by May 26, 2023 with a combination award letter and grant agreement
- Eligible expenses include the cost of lifeguard certification or recertification and lifeguard training certification or recertification for individuals
- Ineligible expenses include costs associated with certification such as travel expenses, incidentals, food, advertising, etc., and any other expenses outside of lifeguard and lifeguard training certification and recertification.
- Expenditure of State funds prior to the contract being fully executed cannot be reimbursed by the State. The Lifeguard Training Initiative ends September 30, 2023. Applications must be submitted through the DOLA Grants Portal.
- Grantees will submit a single (1) pay request for reimbursement when all funds have been expended and a final report no later than October 31, 2023.
Application
The application for Lifeguard Training Initiative funds will require the community to answer:
- How much funding are you requesting?
- Why is the funding needed at this time?
- How many public pools or beaches are operated by your jurisdiction?
- How many individuals do you anticipate to receive lifeguard certification or recertification and lifeguard training certification or recertification?
- Affirmations to use funds for the cost of lifeguard certification or recertification and lifeguard training certification or recertification, final report, Tabor compliance, and social equity.
- Final report must include the number of lifeguards trained, number of individuals trained who are eligible to continue working or be re-hired by the grant recipient, dates of training, proof of payment for training, and documentation of the costs incurred.
Resources
WIOA Discretionary Grants Eligibility Criteria, Glossary, and Documentation Checklist
Contact Information
Alejandra Madrigal, PSI Program Assistant
alejandra.madrigal@state.co.us
Angie Cue, PSI Program Manager
angie.cue@state.co.us