Stanislaus Wet Lab & Job Training Facilities Fund

BEAM Circular, an organization dedicated to advancing the circular bioeconomy in California’s agricultural heartland, is inviting proposals for the Stanislaus Wet Lab & Training Facilities Fund. This funding opportunity is made possible through support from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding provided by Stanislaus County. The grant aims to foster the development of shared-use wet labs and job training facilities across Stanislaus County. Up to $1.5 million will be distributed, with individual grant awards ranging from $10,000 to $500,000. The initiative seeks to enhance local capacity for workforce development, promote innovation, and drive community-based learning, especially within the circular bioeconomy sector. The program supports projects that focus on purchasing equipment and developing facilities that provide local students and workers with industry-aligned job training opportunities. It emphasizes expanding access to good jobs and career pathways in underserved communities. Eligible expenses include the acquisition of workforce training and laboratory equipment, improvements to training facilities, creation of incubator spaces for startups and entrepreneurs, procurement of educational tools and resources, and the development of community-focused laboratory facilities. The goal is to prepare the local workforce for careers in fields such as bio-based manufacturing, chemical engineering, biotechnology, biomass processing, sustainable waste management, and other sectors that produce bio-based products. Eligibility is limited to educational institutions, local government entities, school districts, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating within Stanislaus County. Applicants must design projects that serve one or more target beneficiary populations identified under the American Rescue Plan Act. These include underserved households and populations disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as those residing in qualified census tracts, low-income households, recipients of various federal assistance programs, and students in Title I eligible schools. Applications will be evaluated based on several criteria, including the project’s relevance to local bioeconomy training needs, its potential to increase access and inclusion for underserved communities, the necessity of grant support for project implementation, and the anticipated scale and sustainability of the project’s impact. Collaborative efforts with industry partners are strongly encouraged and may receive priority consideration. The application process includes three rounds in 2025, with submission deadlines on June 30, September 29, and November 21. Award decisions will be communicated within one month of each submission deadline. Proposals submitted between rounds may be considered on a rolling basis. All grant funds must be expended by October 2026. Selected grantees will be required to participate in monthly check-in meetings with BEAM Circular staff and to submit final and potentially mid-point written reports. Additionally, all awardees must comply with federal requirements applicable to subrecipients of Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Applicants are required to submit a proposal not exceeding six pages, which must include a cover page, project narrative, timeline, and budget with cost descriptions and justifications. The cover page should provide organizational details, a brief project summary, and the requested funding amount. Project narratives must detail the scope, anticipated impact, key personnel, and expected outcomes, including the number of learners or workers served over two- and five-year periods. Proposals should be emailed to [email protected] with the specified subject line format. For further information or support during proposal development, applicants are encouraged to contact BEAM Circular staff via the provided email address.

Applicants are invited to reach out to BEAM Circular staff for support and feedback during proposal development.