Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Round 6: A Grant Initiative for the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border Regions

Background
The Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative aims to fund grants that create economic mobility, address inequities for historically marginalized communities of color, rural areas, and other underserved and underrepresented communities. The grants are designed to produce high-quality employment outcomes for workers in the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border regions, enabling them to remain and thrive in their communities. The Initiative provides grant funds to help impacted communities develop local and regional workforce development solutions aligned with existing economic development strategies and community partnerships, promoting new, sustainable job opportunities and long-term economic vitality with a focus on equity and underserved populations.

Grant Details
The purpose of the WORC Initiative grants is to create economic mobility, address historic inequities for marginalized communities of color, rural areas, and other underserved and underrepresented communities. The authorities for WORC direct the Department to fund projects relating to the employment and training needs of workers in the ARC, DRA, and NBRC counties and parishes. A paramount goal of WORC Round 6 is funding projects that increase access to stable, high-quality, family-sustaining jobs for workers in the WORC region.

The WORC Initiative places a strong emphasis on three key focus areas: enhancing access to Good Jobs, prioritizing equity, and sustaining impact. Projects under this announcement will demonstrate clear strategies to provide needed career, training, and support services to eligible individuals in counties, parishes, or areas currently underserved by other resources.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, state or local workforce development boards, special district governments, independent school districts, state or local education agencies,
public and state controlled institutions of higher education,
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities,
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS or without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education), private institutions of higher education,
labor unions,
worker organizations or labor-management partnerships; Hispanic-Serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); Minority-Serving Nonprofits.

Applicants must demonstrate collaboration with a strong and diverse community-wide coalition including at least two employers/industry representatives; at least one State or Local Workforce Development Board; at least one community-based organization.

Period of Performance
The period of performance is 36 months with an anticipated start date of 09/30/2024.

Grant Value
Approximately $49.2 million will be provided in the form of a grant. The funding will be used to fund approximately 35 grants with a minimum award of $150,000 and a maximum amount of up to $1,500,000.

Place of Performance
The specific geographic locations where the grant will be performed include the Appalachian region as defined in 40 U.S.C. 14102(a)(1), the Lower Mississippi Delta (Delta) region as defined in 7 U.S.C. 2009aa(2), and the Northern Border region as defined in 40 U.S.C. 15733.