Federal grant programs / Department of Labor

WIOA Adult Program (17.258)

Also known as Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Adult Programs

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$4.4 billion
• Grant awards332
• Typical award$6.5 million
• Awarded in FY 2025$878 million
• Size rank101 of 1824
• Type of assistanceFormula grants

Key findings

• Annual funding was roughly flat, $855 million in fiscal 2021 and $878 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 101st largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 79% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 57 states and territories.

What the program funds

Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) authorized three of the six core programs included under WIOA. The Adult Program is one of the three core programs. The program serves job seekers age 18 and older to find employment by providing them with career services and training opportunities. WIOA establishes a priority requirement with respect to funds allocated to a local area for adult employment and training activities. American Job Center staff, when using WIOA Adult funds to provide individualized career services and training services, must give priority to recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals, and individuals who are basic skills deficient. Performance program measures include: 1. Employed 2nd Quarter After Exit; 2. Employed 4th Quarter After Exit; 3. Median Earnings Second Quarter After Exit; 4. Credential Attainment Rate; 5. Measurable Skills Gains; and Effectiveness in Serving Employers.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

Under WIOA, the entities eligible to receive funding from the Department are the 50 States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and the outlying areas. Funds are allotted based on a statutory formula. The states in turn allocate funds to local workforce development boards which are responsible for operating American Job Centers (approximately 2,400 nationwide).

What the money can and cannot pay for

WIOA specifies that most services for adults will be provided through the American Job Center Network, also known as one-stop career centers or workforce centers. It authorizes that funds be used to provide career services, which are classified into two categories: basic and individualized services. Basic services are available to all job seekers and include labor exchange services, labor market information, job listings, and information on partner programs. Individualized services include training and supportive services, such as child care and needs-related payments. These are made available to individuals after an interview, assessment or evaluation determines that the individual requires training to obtain employment. These training services will be linked to job opportunities in their communities, including occupational training, work-based training and basic skills training. To promote customer choice and involvement in career decisions, some participants use an "Individual Training Account (ITA)" to select an appropriate training program from an eligible training provider. Consistent with the allowable activities in the statute.;

Matching requirements

Statutory Formula: Title Title 1 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, Part b, Subpart (2)(B),Public Law 113-128.Statutory Formula: Title Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. Chapter 132 Part (b) Subpart (2)(B) Public Law (iii)(I) WIOA regulations related to formula requirements are available at 20 CFR Parts 676, 677, and 678. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Deadlines

Deadlines do not apply Application deadlines are published annually in guidance issued by the US Department of Labor.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

WIOA formula grant amounts vary annually and are published in the Federal Register.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

State and local governments received 96% of the money, colleges and universities 0.6%.

By state

55 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.