Education and Labor Departments Launch Joint Workforce Grant Program
April 1, 2026 · 2 min read
Claire Cummings
The U.S. Departments of Education and Labor have announced their first joint grant competition under a new interagency partnership, launching the FY 2026 Talent Search Program with a focus on connecting students to postsecondary education and Registered Apprenticeships.
A New Model for Federal Workforce Funding
The partnership represents a structural shift in how the federal government funds workforce development. Rather than running parallel programs, the two departments will coordinate through an Interagency Agreement, with the Department of Labor managing grant funds through its GrantSolutions platform and providing technical assistance that integrates Education's postsecondary programs with Labor's existing workforce infrastructure.
The Talent Search program, historically administered solely by the Department of Education as part of the TRIO suite, now explicitly includes pathways to Registered Apprenticeships — a priority the Labor Department has championed for decades.
What Comes Next
The Education Department has signaled that additional Federal TRIO Program competitions will follow in spring and summer 2026, each structured under the new interagency framework. For applicants, this means proposals that demonstrate connections between educational access and workforce outcomes will likely score higher than those focused on education alone.
The grant opportunity is listed on Grants.gov under reference number 361528. Prospective applicants should monitor both agencies' websites for updated competition details and technical assistance webinars.
Why This Matters for Workforce Organizations
Organizations that have traditionally competed for either Education or Labor grants now face a converging landscape. Community-based organizations, workforce development boards, and educational institutions that can demonstrate cross-sector impact stand to benefit most from this realignment.
Grant seekers can track workforce development opportunities across federal agencies on grantedai.com. For broader analysis of the interagency funding shift and what it means for TRIO applicants, check the Granted blog.