US Department of Labor awards $81.5M in grants to support industry-driven job training programs in rural communities

WASHINGTON – The U. S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $81.5 million in funding to address the critical workforce needs of employers in high-growth and emerging industries across the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border regions.

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the seventh round of Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities program funding supports 13 projects across 11 states to stimulate employment and wage growth, as well as economic mobility, self-sufficiency, and increased labor force participation.

The demonstration grants support the workforce needs of regional employers in predominantly rural areas to enable them to better compete economically and enable residents of the regions to obtain or retain family-sustaining employment opportunities so they can remain and thrive in their communities.

“These grants ensure those in our rural communities have a pathway to the training they need for in-demand jobs that feed a family and strengthen our supply chains,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “They help us advance President Trump’s goal of building the workforce for the Golden Age and enable more people to pursue the American Dream.”

The WORC Initiative is made available in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Delta Regional Authority, and the Northern Border Regional Commission. The grants will help provide industry-driven training, including Registered Apprenticeships, for new and dislocated workers, and those already in the workforce who need to learn new skills.