Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Round 7: A Grant Initiative for the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border Regions

The Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative Round 7 is a partnership between the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and three regional commissions to address critical workforce needs in high-growth and emerging industries across the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border regions. Eligible applicants will contribute to large-scale regional economic development models through the formation or enhancement of regional industry and sector partnerships. These partnerships will design and implement grant projects that embed industry-driven strategies, including Registered Apprenticeships, and enhance worker mobility. The grant projects will provide training and education opportunities to dislocated workers, incumbent workers, and new entrants to the workforce, leading to employment and wage growth. • The grant will focus on high-growth and emerging industry sectors such as skilled trades/construction, health care, information technology, manufacturing, domestic energy production, and business/professional services. • Eligible applicants include industry and employer associations, labor-management organizations, education/training providers, workforce development entities, Native American tribal governments and organizations, and state, county, and local governments. • The grant will support the implementation of America's Talent Strategy and the Administration's priority goal for reaching and surpassing one million active apprentices. • The grant projects will be responsive to industry needs and will provide both short-term training and longer-term career pathways programs. • The grant will support the development of regional industry and sector partnerships that bring together employers, education and training providers, and workforce development entities to design and implement grant projects.