Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) (17.261)
Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) (Assistance Listing 17.261) is run by the Employment and Training Administration, part of the Department of Labor. It awarded $214 million in 65 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $3.3 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $2.5 million. Half of the 65 awards fell between $1.6 million and $5.0 million, and they ranged from $107,341 to $8.0 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$214 million
- Grant awards65
- Typical award$2.5 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$75.7 million
- Size rank592 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants (contracts)
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $5.9 million in fiscal 2021 to $75.7 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 592nd largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 56% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 32 states and territories.
What the program funds
Address national employment and training issues through demonstrations, pilot projects, and applied research that have interstate validity and will aid policymakers and stakeholders in addressing these issues and for continuous improvement of the public workforce system.
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
Only states and U.S. territories are eligible to apply for WDQI grants. These funds are used to develop, or enhance, state IT systems established as longitudinal administrative databases for the long-term analysis of individual data from pre-K through the workforce to determine the effectiveness of education and training programs.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Projects shall include demonstration of innovative direct services or improvements to existing service strategies for individuals to enhance employment opportunities, and include a rigorous research or evaluation component and support the Department of Labor’s stated strategic goal of “Good Jobs for Everyone,” by: (1) Preparing workers for good jobs; (2) For those not working, providing income security; (3) Focusing on key segments of the workforce; (4) Building a comprehensive workforce system through innovative approaches; and (5) Evaluating program effectiveness. The Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI), also included under pilots, demonstration, and research, provides funding to states for the development of, or enhancement to, state workforce longitudinal administrative databases. Grants and contracts awarded for carrying out demonstration and pilot projects under this subsection are intended to be awarded only on a competitive basis, except that a noncompetitive award may be made in the case of a project that is funded jointly with other public or private sector entities that provide a portion of the funding for the project. WDQI grants are awarded on a competitive basis.;
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Refer to Funding Opportunity Announcement
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Grant amounts vary and are influenced by the complexity of the initiative being studied. A general range of grant amounts would be $200,000 - $1 million - and an average $500,000. WDQI grant award amounts are influenced by the total amount of available funding as determined by the appropriation.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) (17.261) awarded$214 million across 65 grant awards, an average of $3.3 million per award.
Who usually wins
Colleges and universities received 81% of the money, state and local governments 13% and nonprofits 2.2%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges and universities | 49 | $174 million | 81% |
| State and local governments | 12 | $27.4 million | 13% |
| Other | 3 | $7.5 million | 3.5% |
| Nonprofits | 1 | $4.8 million | 2.2% |
By state
Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 5 | $22.9 million |
| California | 5 | $17.1 million |
| Wisconsin | 3 | $15.1 million |
| Arkansas | 5 | $14.0 million |
| Colorado | 3 | $13.6 million |
| Missouri | 2 | $11.1 million |
| Texas | 4 | $11.0 million |
| South Carolina | 2 | $9.9 million |
| New Jersey | 3 | $9.1 million |
| Michigan | 3 | $8.8 million |
| Florida | 2 | $8.5 million |
| Illinois | 2 | $7.2 million |
| Iowa | 2 | $6.9 million |
| Louisiana | 1 | $6.0 million |
| Virginia | 4 | $6.0 million |
| Montana | 1 | $5.8 million |
| Washington | 1 | $5.8 million |
| Mississippi | 2 | $4.2 million |
| Minnesota | 1 | $4.2 million |
| New Mexico | 2 | $3.8 million |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $3.2 million |
| Connecticut | 1 | $2.9 million |
| Indiana | 1 | $2.5 million |
| Delaware | 1 | $2.1 million |
| Utah | 1 | $1.9 million |
| Kentucky | 1 | $1.9 million |
| Maryland | 1 | $1.8 million |
| Oklahoma | 1 | $1.6 million |
| Oregon | 1 | $1.5 million |
| West Virginia | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Alabama | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Nebraska | 1 | $1.4 million |