City announces new round of grants to boost Adult Education

PHILADELPHIA, March 8, 2022 — The Office of Children and Families launched the application process for a new round of Adult Education Program Support Grants for organizations that provide services to adult learners.
This is the second year that the City is offering grants. This round will provide funding to adult education providers specifically to support facilities and resources that are accessible to adult learners.
“Last year’s first grant opportunity proved that community-based providers not only have a need for such support but also have tremendous creativity and drive to enhance their vital offerings,” said Jessica Shapiro, Acting Deputy Mayor for Children and Families. “We’re thrilled to be able to support a new round of funding that will enhance the opportunities for adult learners who strive for a better future.”
Philadelphia Works will administer the grants, which will range from $5,000 to $25,000 per business, depending on the scope of the application. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the close of business Friday, April 15, 2022. A total of $247,500 will be awarded. The funding priorities for this grant are to support providers to ensure that the adult education program operates in a safe, welcoming, and student-centered physical space; provide learning tools and materials that are designed for use by adults; and support language access.
During last year’s round of Adult Education Program Support Grants, a total of $434,863–was awarded to 25 organizations. Among the grantees was Generations Online, a Philadelphia-based national non-profit organization that has enabled 65,000 older Americans to use the Internet. Generations Online used the grant money to create a free training program for seniors throughout the Philadelphia area to gain understanding and help in finding and applying for jobs online. Founder Tobey Dichter says the grant was invaluable. “There was a new curriculum involved, and that’s consultant work; there was design work involved, and that’s outside people, so we could not have done this just using our reserves. Yet we knew the need was there, and the City’s grant was really helpful.”
The application can be accessed at bit.ly/AdultEdGrants. The budget form can be accessed https://www.philaworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Adult-Education-Grant_Fillable-Budget-Sheet_March-2022.pdf?mc_cid=27db1e6706&mc_eid=6c3587cc41. Potential applicants with questions should e-mail AEgrants@philaworks.org.
The grants program is focused on organizations that serve Philadelphia residents. Eligible organizations are limited to Adult Education Providers. Adult Education Providers are defined as organizations that provide reading, writing, and math, basic computer skills, High school equivalency preparation, and English for speakers of other languages.
A virtual information session will be held on March 14 at 1 p.m. Interested applicants can register for the session https://philaworks-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvc-GvrTwpH9UI5YKCzQ_fERuNB3sqtyoh?mc_cid=27db1e6706&mc_eid=6c3587cc41
About the Office of Children and Families
The Office of Children and Families (OCF) aligns the City’s policies, resources, and services for children, families, and adults. OCF administers a number of City-supported programs, including Adult Education, Out-of-School Time, WorkReady, Community Schools, PHLpreK, and Access Centers. The office also oversees the Department of Human Services (DHS), Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, and the Free Library of Philadelphia.
About Philadelphia Works
Philadelphia Works, Inc., the City’s workforce development board, is a non-profit, quasi-public organization serving employers and connecting career seekers to employment and training opportunities. We invest public resources in a variety of workforce solutions that drive economic growth, influence the public workforce policies, and optimize funding and resources to build a skilled and thriving workforce. For more information, please visit philaworks.org.