Describe the proposed CTE project including key activities, goals, and intended outcomes/student impact. Describe how you will measure these outcomes. Include how your project will accomplish one or more of the following requirements and any of the encouraged priorities (see grant guidelines, page 2 in red).  

How is this project tied to local/regional career opportunities? Identify at least one regional occupation that students will explore, gain exposure to, and/or acquire experience for. (You may use the Career Pathways Tool  or DEED’s Occupations In Demand tool to help identify high-wage, in-demand careers for your region.) 

How do you know that students are interested in and/or will value this opportunity? What information/data do you have that indicates students would be interested in participating in this CTE project? How will you recruit students for this project? How will you assess students’ interests, level of work experience, education, and skill competencies to ensure they are a good fit for the project? How will you ensure that this project is available to all your students? What strategies will you use to keep students engaged in the project? Will students receive college credit and/or credential? 

List all partners in the project. (10 points)

Clearly articulate how partners are intentionally and actively engaged in supporting the project and advancing student learning that build pathways to local/regional careers. Describe the ways in which partners will benefit from their involvement (i.e., What’s in it for them?). Describe how this project is being both driven and supported by your business partners. (i.e., Co-Teaching, On-Site Classroom, Curriculum/Credential Development) (20 points)

The budget is relevant to the proposed project.

There is a clear plan for sustaining the proposed project after the initial year of funding.

There are matching funds supporting the project.

To be eligible for funding, schools must be a member of SWWC. All rural service cooperatives have Rural CTE Consortium funding, so if you are not an SWWC member please check with your region’s service cooperative. 

Yes, the Letter of Intent is required. The LYFT Career Pathways Advisory Committee is committed to the alignment and leveraging of resources across the region. We are hopeful to gain an understanding of the projected projects that we might consider braiding funds as a region to support projects in quality and sustainability purposes.

• The maximum amount of funding that can be requested is $25,000.
• This grant opportunity estimates that $134,000 is available to fund up to 5-7 proposals.
• We reserve the right to offer grant amounts that differ from the applicant’s request, or the maximum identified above.

Match is required, but there is no set amount or percentage. Matching funds demonstrate the partners' support and are an indication that there is greater potential for sustaining the project. If you need help identifying matching funds, please contact program staff.

LYFT Pathway funds require the collaboration of at least one school and one or more businesses or industry partner (partnerships may be facilitated through workforce development, economic development, college, and/or other organizations).

We define collaboration as intentional and facilitated discussions between education and industry focused on cooperative efforts between the two, collecting input on innovative practices that further and sustain students career awareness and advance student learning with a focus on reducing barriers to students’ affordable access to quality, and student-centered educational experiences.  

• Businesses drive content and support career awareness and skill development.
• Education provides innovative and adaptable CTE courses and experiential opportunities.
• Workforce development helps support students and schools with industry engagement.
• ALL working together to support students and ensure their success.
• ALL working together to sustain and continually adapt CTE opportunities to match current n

Yes, if it is to fund a new course, program, or experience ... or to expand course, program, or experience offerings to include additional partnering schools.

Planning can be part of an application for funds, but the outcome needs to be that high school students will be served as a result of the project being implemented.

Funds can be used to transport students for face-to-face classes with other schools, but reimbursement is limited to 50% of the costs. LYFT Pathways will not reimburse students directly for transportation. Reimbursement can only be made to schools or their transportation provider.

The goal of LYFT funds is for every student in the region in grades 7-12 to gain marketable skills leading to further education and careers that match our region’s labor market needs.

While most of the new partnerships will likely result in the development of a new CTE course (for at least one school), funds might also be used to develop other new collaborative CTE opportunities that are not in the form of a course. 

Examples could include job shadowing, career guidance, apprenticeships, and industry tours. 

Whatever the shared opportunity that is developed, it would be important that there is an ongoing partnership between the partners to sustain it after the initial funding.

Offering classes for college credit is not a requirement, but it is encouraged.

The LYFT staff listed on the application can answer questions and provide technical assistance to partnerships to help them make decisions, but it is up to the partnership to complete the application form. 

LYFT Career Pathways staff will contact the lead project contact person and project partners, as listed on the application, to let them know if their plan has been approved or if more details are needed. 

1. Submit an invoice to SWWC at LYFT@swwc.org or Attention Eriann Faris - SWWC, 1420 East College Drive, Marshall, MN 56258.
2. Include a copy of the original invoice that was paid.
3. Provide proof that the invoice has been paid (i.e. payment register showing the check number, vendor name and dollar amount, OR a copy of the cancelled check. School districts can send a copy of the posted activity audit report).
4. Upon receiving the appropriate documentation, a check will be mailed to the school/organization making the request.

School Finance Codes: The grant does not specify that certain codes must be used, so that will be up to the fiscal host of the local LYFT partnership. SWWC (as fiscal host) uses Finance Code - 000 and Program Code - 399.