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Workforce Development Grants: Top Programs for Employers and Nonprofits in 2026

Published 2026-09-07 · GrantIQ Team · 6 min read

The Skills Gap Is a Funding Opportunity

The U.S. faces a persistent workforce challenge: millions of open jobs, millions of workers without the skills to fill them. Healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and construction sectors report chronic shortages — not because workers don't exist, but because training pathways don't reach the people who need them.

That gap is also a grant opportunity. Federal agencies, state workforce boards, and private foundations collectively invest billions each year in workforce development — funding that flows to employers building apprenticeship programs, nonprofits providing job training, community colleges developing new curricula, and regional coalitions connecting workers to careers.

In 2026, workforce development grants are among the most accessible and underused sources of funding for both organizations and employers. Here are the top programs, who qualifies, and how to apply.

Who Can Apply for Workforce Development Grants?

Workforce development grants support a wide range of organizations:

Most federal programs require an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and some form of legal entity status. 501(c)(3) nonprofits and units of government often have priority consideration in federal scoring, but for-profit employers are eligible for several key programs — particularly apprenticeship and on-the-job training grants.

6 Top Workforce Development Grants in 2026

1. WIOA Dislocated Worker National Emergency Grants

Agency: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
Award Range: $500,000–$5 million
Eligibility: State agencies, local workforce development boards, and nonprofits serving workers displaced by layoffs, plant closings, or natural disasters
How to Apply: Apply through grants.gov during open Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) periods. Check dol.gov/agencies/eta for current solicitations. Most awards flow through state workforce agencies, which then subgrant to local providers.

WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) is the cornerstone of U.S. federal workforce funding — distributing more than $3 billion annually to states and localities. The Dislocated Worker stream specifically supports rapid reemployment for workers who have lost jobs through no fault of their own. If your organization provides career counseling, retraining, job placement, or supportive services to displaced workers, WIOA Dislocated Worker funding is your primary federal source. Build a relationship with your local American Job Center network before applying — most federal WIOA dollars flow through these local boards.

2. DOL ApprenticeshipUSA Expansion Grants

Agency: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship
Award Range: $500,000–$10 million (varies by grant type)
Eligibility: Employers, industry associations, workforce intermediaries, and state agencies expanding registered apprenticeship programs; priority given to high-growth sectors including healthcare, technology, and advanced manufacturing
How to Apply: Visit apprenticeship.gov and apply through grants.gov during open funding cycles. DOL releases multiple workforce-focused funding announcements per year — sign up for ETA email alerts at dol.gov to stay current.

Registered apprenticeship is one of the most evidence-backed workforce training models in existence, and DOL has invested heavily in its expansion. Apprenticeship grants fund program development, mentorship infrastructure, and the recruitment of new apprentices — particularly in sectors where traditional four-year degree pathways have failed to produce enough skilled workers. Employers in manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and IT should treat apprenticeship grants as a primary funding source for building homegrown talent pipelines.

3. NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program

Agency: National Science Foundation
Award Range: $75,000–$7.5 million (Small Grants to Center grants)
Eligibility: Community and technical colleges; four-year institutions may partner but cannot serve as the lead applicant
How to Apply: Submit proposals through research.gov. ATE releases one main annual solicitation (typically in the fall), with specific submission windows. Proposal preparation is substantial — allow 3–4 months minimum.

NSF's ATE program invests in technician education at the community college level, funding curriculum development, faculty professional development, and the creation of educational materials for high-tech fields including advanced manufacturing, information technology, biotechnology, and energy. Awards range from $75,000 for small-scale projects to $7.5 million for national Centers of Excellence. Community colleges leading workforce programs in technical fields should prioritize this program — it is one of the largest sustained federal investments in non-degree technical education.

4. EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance — Workforce Component

Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration
Award Range: $100,000–$3 million
Eligibility: Economic Development Districts, nonprofits, regional planning organizations, and institutions of higher education conducting workforce development activities tied to economic recovery or regional competitiveness
How to Apply: Search "Economic Adjustment Assistance" on grants.gov. EDA also releases targeted solicitations following significant economic disruptions — monitor eda.gov for current NOFAs.

EDA's Economic Adjustment Assistance program funds regional economic resilience — including workforce development activities directly tied to strengthening a local economy. Workforce-focused EDA grants have funded regional talent pipelines for emerging industries, retraining programs following large plant closures, and skills-gap analyses that reshape training priorities across multi-county regions. If your workforce initiative has a regional economic development framing, EDA offers large awards with relatively fewer applicants than purely workforce-focused programs.

5. USDA Rural Development Workforce and Community Facilities Grants

Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development
Award Range: Grants up to $150,000; combined loan-grant packages support larger projects
Eligibility: Nonprofits, local governments, and public bodies in rural communities (population under 20,000); workforce training facilities and job training programs for rural residents qualify
How to Apply: Contact your state's USDA Rural Development office at rd.usda.gov or apply through grants.gov during open funding cycles.

Rural communities face workforce development challenges that urban workforce boards rarely prioritize. USDA Rural Development fills this gap with grants that can fund workforce training facilities, equipment for vocational programs, and technical assistance for rural employers building training pipelines. If your organization operates in a rural or small-town setting, USDA funding is frequently undersubscribed — meaning your competitive odds are often significantly better than with national programs. Designated rural areas (population under 20,000) receive the highest grant percentages, and low-income rural communities may qualify for up to 75% grant funding on eligible projects.

6. JPMorgan Chase New Skills at Work Initiative

Organization: JPMorgan Chase (corporate philanthropy)
Award Range: $50,000–$500,000
Eligibility: Nonprofits, community colleges, and workforce intermediaries building demand-driven skills training programs; priority given to programs with employer partnerships that lead to job placement
How to Apply: JPMorgan Chase does not accept unsolicited applications — they make strategic investments in partner organizations. Connect with your regional JPMorgan Chase Community Development or corporate responsibility team, or apply through intermediary partners the firm has funded in your area. Follow jpmorganchase.com/impact for grant announcements.

JPMorgan Chase has committed billions to workforce development as part of its New Skills at Work initiative, funding training programs that directly connect to employer hiring needs. Their focus on employer-led, demand-driven training — where employers define the skills needed and training providers build the programs — makes this a strong fit for workforce intermediaries, community colleges with strong employer relationships, and nonprofits running sector-specific training with strong placement outcomes. If your program results in jobs, not just certificates, JPMorgan Chase is the corporate partner to cultivate.

Tips for Stronger Workforce Grant Applications

  1. Lead with outcomes, not activities. Grant reviewers for workforce programs want to know how many participants will get jobs — not how many hours of training you'll deliver. Build employment placement data into your program model and proposal from the start.
  2. Secure employer partnerships before you apply. Most workforce development funders want to see that employers are engaged and hiring. A letter of commitment from three to five local employers willing to interview or hire your graduates dramatically strengthens every application.
  3. Know your target population. The most competitive workforce grants serve a defined population facing specific barriers — veterans, returning citizens, individuals with disabilities, low-income adults. Define yours clearly and document the need in your region with data.
  4. Connect to your local workforce board. American Job Centers and local workforce development boards are the gateway to WIOA funding, can co-refer participants to your program, and often provide letters of support that strengthen federal applications. A meeting with your local board director is one of the highest-ROI steps you can take before writing your first grant.
  5. Apply to sector-specific initiatives. DOL, HHS, and EDA regularly release solicitations focused on healthcare, clean energy, and technology — with dedicated funding pools and less competition than general workforce grants. Narrow your search to sectors where your programs have real outcomes.

Find Every Workforce Development Grant You Qualify For

The programs above cover the major federal sources — but thousands of additional workforce development grants exist at the state, foundation, and corporate levels, many with smaller award amounts and less competition than federal programs.

GrantIQ searches 86,000+ grants and matches you automatically based on your organization's mission and focus areas — start free. No credit card required. See your matched workforce development grant opportunities in minutes.