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Find similar grantsWorkforce Opportunities for Rural Communities is sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.
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Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative | U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Foreign Labor Certification Indians and Native Americans Layoffs and Rapid Response National Dislocated Worker Grants Trade Adjustment Assistance Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) POLICY AND DIRECTIVES Back Advisories and Directives Recovery-Ready Workplace Resource Hub Freedom of Information Act Office of Foreign Labor Certification Office of Grants Management Office of Unemployment Insurance (1-877-S-2JOBS) Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative The Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative is a partnership between the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and three regional commissions—the Appalachian Regional Commission , the Delta Regional Authority , and the Northern Border Regional Commission .
The WORC Initiative addresses the critical workforce needs of employers in high-growth and emerging industries across the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border regions (collectively, the WORC regions), which represent areas of the country that have been hard-hit by economic distress.
Participants in grant-funded training programs will receive training and education opportunities and resources that lead to employment and wage growth and stimulate economic mobility, self-sufficiency, and increased labor force participation. These federal workforce investments will support America's reindustrialization and equip American workers to fill the growing demand for skilled trades and other occupations.
The current WORC Initiative invests in regional industry and sector partnerships to design and implement industry-driven training programs that will close skills gaps and increase the talent pipeline in critical sectors. These investments aim to increase worker mobility by providing high-quality work-based learning opportunities and related training as a career pathway for new and dislocated workers and for incumbent worker upskilling.
In 2019, ETA awarded the first round of WORC grants to 18 recipients throughout the Appalachian and Delta regions. In 2023, the fifth round of WORC grants expanded to include the Northern Border region. To date, ETA has funded six rounds of WORC grants.
WORC Initiative Grant Awards The table below includes the number of grants and total funding awarded in each WORC round. For more information on awarded grant projects, see the project summaries through the link for each round.
WORC Round (Regions Included) Total Grants Awarded Total Funding Awarded Current Active Awards (As of 6/1/2026) WORC 6 (2024) (Appalachian, Delta, Northern Border) 35 $48,915,290 35 WORC 5 (2023) (Appalachian, Delta, Northern Border) 32 $44,035,000 32 WORC 4 (2022) 26 $34,375,000 2 WORC 3 (2021) 23 $28,193,572 0 WORC 2 (2020) 27 $26,184,526 0 WORC 1 (2019) Learn more about the mission, programs, and priority areas served by each WORC regional partner: Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Delta Regional Commission (DRA) Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC)
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Administered through the Employment and Training Administration, which funds state and local workforce development systems and grant programs for targeted populations. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities is funded by U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
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