Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending (17.289)
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending (Assistance Listing 17.289) is run by the Employment and Training Administration, part of the Department of Labor. It awarded $457 million in 536 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $852,211 per award on average. 1 funding opportunity is open or forecast now.
The typical award was $675,000. Half of the 536 awards fell between $350,000 and $1.0 million, and they ranged from $20,000 to $6.3 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$457 million
- Grant awards536
- Typical award$675,000
- Awarded in FY 2025$105 million
- Size rank394 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceDirect payment for specified use
Key findings
- It is the 394th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 19% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 47 states and territories.
What the program funds
The goal is to fund projects in the amounts specified in the table titled “Community Project Funding/Congressional Directed Spending” in the Explanatory Statement for the U.S. Department of Labor’s annual appropriation.
Open opportunities
Past notices
Of 4 notices posted under this program since 2021, most went up in August (3) and September (1).
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Organizations listed in the Community Projects Funding/Congressional Directed Spending Table of the explanatory statement for the DOL appropriation.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Assistance may be used per the stipulated guidelines in applicable appropriation acts and the accompanying explanatory statements. Yes, discretionary funds were made available per the FY 2022 Appropriations Act (P.L. 117-103), the FY 2023 Appropriations Act (P.L. 117-328), and the FY 2024 Appropriations Act (P.L. 118-47).
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.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
For FY 2024, the minimum grant award was $38,000 and the maximum award was $5 million. The average award was $885,000.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Funding may be used to support community-driven workforce and training projects that respond to local employment needs and help individuals prepare for in-demand jobs. Examples of funded projects include: • Launching or expanding apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs that prepare individuals for careers in skilled trades, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, and other growing industries. • Developing short-term credential or certificate programs that help unemployed or underemployed individuals gain job-ready skills and industry-recognized certifications. • Creating career pathways programs that combine job training with supportive services such as career coaching, resume preparation, interview skills, and job placement assistance. • Expanding workforce programs that serve individuals facing barriers to employment, including youth and young adults, veterans, people with disabilities, and returning citizens. • Supporting partnerships between employers, educational institutions, labor organizations, and community-based nonprofits to align training programs with local hiring needs. • Developing training programs in high-demand subject areas such as construction trades, healthcare support occupations, information technology, cybersecurity, transportation, and advanced manufacturing. • Creating mobile training units or remote learning capacity to reach rural or underserved communities.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending (17.289) awarded $457 million across 536 grant awards, an average of $852,211 per award.
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 54% of the money, colleges and universities 22% and state and local governments 18%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 333 | $248 million | 54% |
| Colleges and universities | 93 | $99.8 million | 22% |
| State and local governments | 78 | $81.1 million | 18% |
| Other | 25 | $24.2 million | 5.3% |
| Businesses | 4 | $2.1 million | 0.5% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 3 | $1.8 million | 0.4% |
By state
40 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 58 | $50.3 million |
| New York | 40 | $27.9 million |
| Maryland | 32 | $25.7 million |
| Washington | 18 | $25.3 million |
| West Virginia | 17 | $19.5 million |
| Pennsylvania | 31 | $19.4 million |
| Rhode Island | 30 | $18.6 million |
| Alaska | 16 | $17.0 million |
| Virginia | 18 | $15.4 million |
| Wisconsin | 6 | $14.8 million |
| Mississippi | 11 | $13.0 million |
| Michigan | 13 | $12.2 million |
| South Carolina | 5 | $12.0 million |
| Maine | 13 | $11.8 million |
| Florida | 12 | $10.7 million |
| New Jersey | 15 | $10.1 million |
| Oregon | 13 | $9.8 million |
| Illinois | 19 | $9.8 million |
| Missouri | 7 | $9.5 million |
| Delaware | 7 | $9.1 million |
| Ohio | 12 | $8.9 million |
| Connecticut | 18 | $8.7 million |
| Minnesota | 12 | $8.4 million |
| Georgia | 9 | $8.3 million |
| Massachusetts | 9 | $7.8 million |
| Texas | 9 | $7.6 million |
| Kansas | 9 | $7.5 million |
| New Mexico | 7 | $7.4 million |
| Vermont | 11 | $7.1 million |
| Colorado | 13 | $7.1 million |
| North Carolina | 8 | $7.0 million |
| Hawaii | 7 | $6.1 million |
| Arizona | 4 | $4.9 million |
| Alabama | 2 | $3.8 million |
| Nevada | 4 | $2.8 million |
| Indiana | 4 | $2.7 million |
| New Hampshire | 5 | $2.4 million |
| Louisiana | 1 | $1.2 million |
| Nebraska | 1 | $1.0 million |
| Tennessee | 1 | $1.0 million |
| District of Columbia | 2 | $829,750 |
| Utah | 1 | $515,000 |
| Kentucky | 1 | $440,000 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | $403,000 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $355,000 |
| Iowa | 1 | $339,000 |
| Idaho | 1 | $100,000 |