$29 Million in Federal Grants Available for Rural Workforce Projects

The U.S. Department of Labor announced a third round of funding for the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) initiative for $29.2 million, with awards ranging from $150,000 to $1.5 million. Last year, 14 projects in the Appalachian region received more than $14.5 million.

Managed by the U.S. Department of Labor, WORC provides enhanced training and support activities to dislocated workers, new entrants in the workforce, incumbent workers, and individuals affected by substance use disorder who are returning to work in the Appalachian and Delta regions. The goal of WORC is to improve access to jobs in high-demand occupations, as well as help communities and workers plan for, and recover from, economic transitions. Successful WORC projects draw on long-term economic growth strategies, building on bottom-up, community-led plans maximizing economic resilience and regional strengths.

Learn how to apply for a WORC Initiative grant. For assistance preparing your application, check out WORC’s technical assistance pre-application workshops below.

Monday, May 17: Nuts and Bolts of the WORC Initiative
Tuesday, May 18: Managing the Grant Writing Process
Wednesday, May 19: Demonstrating Need and Strategic Alignment
Thursday, May 20: The SF-424, 424-A, and the Budget Narrative
Friday, May 21: Outputs, Outcomes, Impact, and Sustainability

Register by Friday, May 14, 2021.