Career Launch Capital Equipment Funding

For Career Launch endorsed programs at community and technical colleges 

Funding available in 2023-25 biennium (FY24 & FY25): $5.0 million

Part of the Career Connect Washington initiative, Career Launch programs provide students with real-life work experience related to their classroom studies. Students graduate with skills to be competitive in the job market and with a valuable credential beyond a high school diploma.

Offered through the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, this funding opportunity is intended to provide for the purchase and installation of capital equipment that supports student learning within eligible Career Launch endorsed programs* in the Washington Community and Technical College System. 

*Capital equipment funding applications will be accepted from programs with Career Launch endorsement applications that are pending review and approval. Equipment funding awards are contingent on final endorsement.

Important Dates

Grant Resources and Guidelines

The following documents provide detailed information about how grant funds may be used, who can apply, the application process and deadlines.

• 2023-25 Career Launch Capital Equipment Funding Program and Fiscal Guidelines

Career Launch Equipment Technical Assistance Webinar

A technical assistance webinar was held on October 26, 2023.  Please visit link below if you did not attend.

Recorded Webinar

Who May Apply

A community or technical college may apply for funding for equipment to be used in credit bearing programs that have received a Career Launch endorsement from the Career Connected Learning Cross-Agency Work Group’s Career Launch Endorsement Review Team as established and required by Section RCW 28C.30.040. For reference, Career Launch Programs are defined in ESSHB 2158 Section 57. 

Community and technical colleges who partner with Washington state registered apprenticeship programs to deliver related supplemental instruction (RSI) are eligible to apply for Career Launch Capital Equipment funding. Washington state registered apprenticeship programs are automatically considered Career Launch endorsed programs. More information on the Career Launch Endorsement Review process can be found on the SBCTC website.

Funding for Distribution

Funding is available through ESSB 5200, Section 5090 for the 2023-25 biennium, which provides a total of five million dollars ($5.0 million) in funding from the State Capital Budget solely for the SBCTC to provide competitive funding to community and technical colleges to purchase and install equipment that expands career-connected learning opportunities. For the purposes of this opportunity, only career-connected learning opportunities at the Career Launch level, which include CTC’s who partner with Washington state registered apprenticeship programs, will be considered for funding.

Two Funding Submission Opportunities

• Round One Awarded: $3,975,162 
• Round Two Funding AVAILABLE: $1,024,838

All equipment must be received, and facility work completed by June 30, 2025. Applicants are advised that the legislature makes no ongoing commitment to pay for operating costs associated with the equipment acquired with this funding.

How to Apply

2023-25 Career Launch Capital Equipment applications must be submitted through the Online Grant Management System (OGMS) to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) in accordance with the deadlines outlined in the guidelines. If you do not have an account, contact your organization's Security Contact for access; you will also need your Security Contact to give you permission for FY24.

SBCTC staff are available for assistance until 4:00 p.m. on April 4, 2024, for round two applications. Completed round two applications are due through OGMS no later than April 4,2024 at 11:55 p.m. 

Application Questions and Answers

Please submit all questions to Karin Gitchel. 

Previous round Q&A are available below.

• 2021-23 Career Launch Capital Equipment Funding Q&A