Closed · FOA-ETA-20-04 · CFDA 17.280 · Discretionary

Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC)

Federal grant opportunity posted by Employment and Training Administration, cataloged on Grants.gov.

$150K-$1.5M
Award range
Closed
Status
July 29, 2020
Close date
35
Expected awards

The verdict

Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) is a closed discretionary listing from Employment and Training Administration that offered $150,000 -- $1,500,000 across 35 expected awards. Future funding cycles may be published under the same CFDA number. PlainGrants indexes 412 other opportunities from Employment and Training Administration.

$150K-$1.5M
award range
Closed
application status
35
expected awards
17.280
CFDA program

Archived opportunity record

Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities is closed (last close July 29, 2020). Check the agency catalog for replacement NOFOs. Employment and Training Administration still indexes 412 other opportunities here.

According to Grants.gov (extract vintage 2026-08-10), this record reflects the officially published listing. See methodology.

Deadline tracker

Application window closed

Closed July 29, 2020

Posted Apr 30 Closes Jul 29

Est. Total Funding

$29,200,000

Expected Awards

35

Instrument

Grant

Description

This Announcement solicits applications for the WORC Initiative for grants serving the Appalachian and Delta regions. The purpose of this program is to demonstrate the alignment of regionally driven, comprehensive approaches to addressing economic distress and the necessary workforce development activities to ensure a workforce capable of succeeding in current and future job opportunities. Successful long-term economic growth strategies build upon bottom-up, community-led plans that promote economic resilience and maximize regional strengths. The WORC Initiative grants take a long-term view toward assisting eligible communities in diversifying their economies by investing in local strategies developed by regional partners. This long-term view also acknowledges the impact of the opioid crisis and the significant challenges it presents to a community’s workforce. To address these challenges, ETA encourages applicants to include within their applications strategies to address the employment and training needs of individuals affected by substance use disorder in their communities.

Catch-all / unrestricted eligibility mark · FOA-ETA-20-04

Grants.gov marks Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities with a catch-all / unrestricted eligibility code (Others (see official listing text)). Read the official announcement text for the real applicant filter — the code alone is not a door list. The extract does not mark applicant cost-sharing as required. Instrument: Grant. Funding-activity codes span Employment, Labor and Training · Opportunity Zones (ELT;OZ). This eligibility-code string dominates the Employment and Training Administration book (353 peers, 85% of 413).

Code 25
Others (see official listing text)

Codes are Grants.gov eligibility category values from the extract vintage 2026-08-10. Confirm the full eligibility statement on the official listing or the Grants.gov eligibility reference.

Official Listing on Grants.gov

View full details, application forms, and submission instructions.

View on Grants.gov

Agency Contact

Jenifer McEnery Grants Management Specialist McEnery.Jenifer@dol.gov

More from Employment and Training Administration

Closed Closed August 28, 2026

Fiscal Year 2026 Funding Allotments and Operating Guidance for Unemployment Insurance Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessments Grants

View →
Closed Closed August 17, 2026

Change 1 to Training and Employment Guidance Letter 02-25, Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund Grant Program

View →
Open Closes December 31, 2028

Updated National Dislocated Worker Grant Program Guidance and Application Information

View →
Closed

UI Interstate Connection Network (ICON) – Continued Support

View →
Closed

Comprehensive Program of Support for American Apprenticeship Initiative Grantees

View →

What to do next

Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities is closed; use the parent program and agency catalog for the next funding cycle.

  • Browse open federal opportunities in the same category when this listing is closed. Open opportunities
  • Look up CFDA 17.280 across all indexed listings before you commit to this opportunity alone. Eligibility finder
  • Compare award ranges across federal categories before you pick a single CFDA. All categories

Opportunity deadlines and eligibility change on Grants.gov; PlainGrants mirrors the extract and is not the submission system.

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from Grants.gov and SAM.gov and is for informational purposes only. Opportunity details, deadlines, and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always verify current information directly on Grants.gov before applying. PlainGrants is not affiliated with any federal agency.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from the SAM.gov Assistance Listings and Grants.gov. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainGrants