Denver RTD awarded federal workforce development grant

The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) received a $486,465 grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the Workforce Initiative Now (WIN), a partnership between RTD, Community College of Denver, Urban League of Metropolitan Denver and Denver Transit Partners.

WIN is a sector workforce partnership that strives to meet the hiring and training needs of local employers by helping to create and retain living wage careers in the transit and construction industries, as well as providing local residents with skills development training, jobs and career pathways to work in these industries. This funding represents the largest grant awarded through FTA’s Innovative Workforce Development Grants program.

WIN will use this funding to provide enhanced access to training equipment and materials for WIN network partners, hire support staff, and increase available funds to support foundational and skilled training. Training and supportive services are provided through the WIN Network, a collaborative of over 30 community-based organizations, community and technical colleges, industry training providers and workforce development regions.

By awarding the full amount requested, FTA has once again acknowledged the value of this initiative and the innovative thinking and planning in the RTD FasTracks program. The WIN partners are encouraged that this level of financial commitment from FTA may indicate that this collaborative workforce partnership will be used as a model for future transit projects.