# Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/foa-eta-21-08-workforce-opportunity-for-rural-communities-worc/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/333025

> Employment and Training Administration offered grants of up to $1.5 million (at least $150,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 30 awards worth $29.2 million in total. Applications closed on July 21, 2021.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | FOA-ETA-21-08 |
| Agency | Employment and Training Administration |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | July 21, 2021 |
| Award ceiling | $1.5 million |
| Award floor | $150,000 |
| Expected awards | 30 |
| Total funding | $29.2 million |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 17.280 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

The following organizations are eligible to apply:• State Government• County Government• City or Township Government• State or Local Workforce Development Board• Special District Government• Regional Organization• Independent School District• Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education• Indian/Native American Tribal Government (federally recognized)• Indian/Native American Tribal Government (other than federally recognized)• Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization• Public/Indian Housing• Nonprofit Organization with IRS 501(c)(3) Status, including labor unions or labor management partnerships• Nonprofit Organization without IRS 501(c)(3) Status, including labor unions or labor management partnerships• Private Institution of Higher Education• Hispanic-serving Institution• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)

## What the grant funds

This Announcement solicits applications for the WORC Initiative for grants serving the Appalachian and Delta regions. The purpose of this program is to demonstrate the alignment of regionally driven, comprehensive approaches to addressing economic distress and the necessary workforce development activities to ensure dislocated and other workers in the regions are capable of succeeding in current and future job opportunities. Successful long-term economic growth strategies build upon bottom-up, community-led plans that promote economic resilience and maximize regional strengths. The WORC Initiative grants take a long-term view toward assisting eligible communities, including those energy communities that currently or historically have had a high concentration of employment in energy extraction and related industries, in diversifying their economies by investing in developing a skilled workforce through training and other approaches that aligns with local strategies developed by regional partners. This long-term view also acknowledges the impact of the opioid crisis and the significant challenges it presents to a community’s workforce. To address these challenges, ETA encourages applicants to include within their applications strategies to address the employment and training needs of individuals affected by substance use disorder in their communities.

## Questions people ask

### Is FOA-ETA-21-08 still open?

No. It closed on July 21, 2021.

### Who can apply for Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC)?

Employment and Training Administration accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC)?

Closed July 21, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $1.5 million each. About $29.2 million in total across about 30 awards.

### Who has won WIOA Dislocated Worker National Reserve Demonstration Grants grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were National Urban League, Inc., Jobs for Americas Graduates, State of Connecticut Labor Dept. The program made 124 awards worth $260 million in that time.