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Application deadline is July 23, 2026. Program targets dislocated workers and individuals facing barriers in Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border regions.
"Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC): Grant Initiative for the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border Regions" is currently closed and not accepting applications.
Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC): Grant Initiative for the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border Regions is sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The WORC Initiative offers grants for projects in the Appalachian, Lower Mississippi Delta, and Northern Border regions (which include parts of Pennsylvania) that provide career training and support services.
While the primary focus is workforce development, projects can include assistance with items like books and other necessary items for students enrolled in training. This could support literacy development as part of broader workforce readiness in rural areas.
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Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities - Appalachian Regional Commission Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities The Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative, managed by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) , provides enhanced training and support activities to dislocated workers, new entrants in the workforce, incumbent workers and individuals facing barriers to employment due to economic distress or structural shifts in local industries in the Appalachian, Delta and Northern Border regions.
As part of WORC, ARC partners with the Department of Labor to develop comprehensive approaches addressing economic distress and workforce development activities throughout Appalachia. Successful WORC projects draw on long-term economic growth strategies, building on bottom-up, collaborative plans maximizing economic resilience and regional strengths.
WORC applications are now being accepted by DOL for projects that enhance training and support activities to dislocated workers and individuals facing barriers to employment. Watch our pre-application video series and submit your application by July 23, 2026. WORC’s Impact in Appalachia Since 2019, the Department of Labor has invested more than $102.
1 million in 77 projects specifically preparing displaced workers for new opportunities in 326 counties across Appalachia through WORC. Together, these investments are projected to place 18,334 workers in new or enhanced jobs in construction, healthcare, information technology and manufacturing throughout the Region.
Building Appalachia’s Workforce Ecosystem Addressing Substance Use Disorder in Appalachia First Tennessee Development District: Championing Caring Rural Workplaces
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: State governments, county governments, city or township governments, independent school districts, public, state-controlled, and private institutions of higher education, Indian/Native American Tribal governments (Federally recognized), Indian/Native American Tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized), nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) IRS status, Higher Education Act of 1965 universities, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows $49,200,000 (total program funding). Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
The published deadline was July 23, 2026, which has passed. Check the official notice for any future application windows before investing time in a proposal.
Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC): Grant Initiative for the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border Regions is funded by U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
Fostering the Future Together: Empowering Youth for a Safe Digital World is sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This program aims to empower youth for a safe digital world. It supports projects that confront online manipulation and reinforce regional security through targeted digital literacy and resilience programs. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations, including non-profits.
State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) Grant Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This program provides dedicated funding to states and territories to expand and modernize their Registered Apprenticeship (RA) systems. These grants are part of DOL's multi-year investment strategy to strengthen statewide apprenticeships as a workforce development strategy, aligning RA with state economic and labor market needs. While primarily for states, nonprofits often partner with state entities to implement these programs.
DOL's Rapid Reskill Employment Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grants deploy about $50M in awards of $2M to $8M, close August 3, 2026, and explicitly tie funding to reindustrialization priorities — AI infrastructure, nuclear energy, shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing, and domestic mineral production. Here is who is eligible, what 'rapid reskill' actually requires, and how to build a competitive application in the weeks that remain.
Read articleThe Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Initiative returns for a seventh round with $49.2M for the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border regions — awards of $2M to $8M, an estimated 6 to 24 grants, and a July 23, 2026 deadline. Here is how the three-commission structure works, who is eligible, why WORC 7's shift toward large-scale regional sector partnerships changes who should apply, and how to build a proposal that survives the competition.
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