The Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) has released the RFP for the current RAPIDS (Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills) competition. ODHE uses RAPIDS to make strategic regional investments in equipment and facilities to develop and support postsecondary workforce development projects that enhance the economic growth of students and businesses. Applications are submitted by a regional collaborative. Northeast Ohio will receive $2,042,500 -which will be divided equally among the three areas within the region. The University of Akron is in the Northeast Central Region ($680,833 allocated) and is an eligible Fiscal Agent along with: Kent State University, Northeast Ohio Medical Center, Lakeland Community College, and Stark State College.
Due to interest in this program from multiple groups at the University, we are looking for:
- Equipment Proposals: Identify equipment ($25,000 or higher) that will support workforce development projects in targeted regional industries. Areas of investment broadly include additive manufacturing, robotics, and cybersecurity.
Additional information may be found at: https://www.ohiohighered.org/grants-rfps
Anyone interested in submitting an equipment proposal is to respond to this Limited Submission notice by March 29, 2021, by 5pm. Full proposals to ODHE are due May 14, 2021.
Please include the following in your LOI and email your LOI to Emily Njus at emily@uakron.edu by the above deadline:
Equipment Proposals are to include (1) description of the equipment (2) estimated cost of the equipment (3) the career pathway within the targeted industry and in-demand occupations that are targeted (http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Career-Tech/Career-Connections/Career-Pathways)
and (4) briefly explain how the purchase meets the requirements of the RFP (https://www.ohiohighered.org/sites/default/files/uploads/rapids/RAPIDS_2021-RFP_031221.pdf)
Contact Emily Njus with any questions you may have regarding this Limited Submission opportunity: 330-972-2760 or emily@uakron.edu