Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Round 7: A Grant Initiative for the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border Regions
This grant funds projects that build workforce skills for high-growth industries in the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border regions through a partnership with the Department of Labor and regional commissions.
Funder: Employment and Training Administration
Due Dates: July 23, 2026: Full application deadline
Funding Amounts: $2,000,000–$8,000,000 per award | ~15 awards | $49.2M total program funding | 3-year project period
Summary: Supports large-scale, industry-driven workforce development partnerships to address critical workforce needs in high-growth sectors across the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border regions.
Key Information: No cost sharing required; must apply via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm ET on the deadline.
Description
This grant initiative, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), funds large-scale regional partnerships to design and implement industry-driven workforce training programs in the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border regions. The program targets high-growth and emerging sectors—skilled trades/construction, health care, information technology, manufacturing, domestic energy production, and business/professional services—to close skills gaps, enhance worker mobility, and create career pathways for rural populations. Projects must bring together employers, workforce development entities, and education/training providers to deliver occupational skills training, work-based learning, and supportive services that result in recognized postsecondary credentials and improved employment outcomes.
