Education and Labor Launch First Joint Postsecondary Workforce Grants

The U.S. Departments of Education and Labor have announced their first-ever joint grant competition under the Postsecondary Education Partnership, signaling a new era of federal coordination on workforce development. The competition opens in FY2026 with additional rounds planned for spring and summer.

Two Agencies, One Application Process

The partnership eliminates long-standing silos between federal education and workforce agencies. "We are proud to partner with the Department of Labor to streamline postsecondary and workforce education programs to better serve students, institutions of higher education, and grantees," said Dr. David Barker, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

Dr. Henry Mack, Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, added: "We are committed to ensuring every American has access to the tools and training they need to succeed in today's economy."

Awards will be issued through the Department of Labor's GrantSolutions platform—a notable administrative shift for institutions accustomed to working exclusively through Education Department channels. The partnership reflects a broader federal push to connect educational credentials directly to employment outcomes, with Registered Apprenticeships and other work-based learning models expected to be competitive.

How Institutions Should Prepare Now

While specific dollar amounts and detailed eligibility criteria have not yet been released, the joint format means applicants must address priorities from both agencies simultaneously—workforce alignment from Labor and educational quality from Education. Community colleges, workforce development boards, and postsecondary institutions that demonstrate integrated education-to-employment pathways will be the strongest candidates.

Institutions already running successful bridge programs between academic credentials and industry employment should begin assembling cross-departmental teams to prepare proposals. The GrantSolutions platform may require institutions to set up new accounts if they have previously worked only through Education Department systems.

Grant seekers should monitor grants.gov for the formal notice of funding opportunity. Organizations tracking federal workforce grants on grantedai.com should note that this cross-agency model may become a template for future interagency competitions, making early participation especially valuable.

For an in-depth look at the joint postsecondary grants and preparation strategies, visit the Granted blog.