WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration today awarded $29,175,000 in demonstration grant funds to expand the impact of workforce development efforts in the Appalachian and Delta regions through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) grant initiative. These grant funds, awarded in collaboration with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and Delta Regional Authority (DRA), focus on rural areas hard hit by economic transition that are recovering slowly. Grantees have designed projects to address the specific skill needs of both businesses and workers in their grant’s service area, located in either the Appalachian region or the Lower Mississippi Delta region, as defined in 40 U.S.C 14102(a)(1), and in 7 U.S.C. 2009aa(2), respectively.
WORC grant applicants could apply for funding amounts between $150,000 and $2,500,000 for developing local and regional workforce development solutions aligned with existing economic development strategies. The grants also provide enhanced training and support activities to dislocated workers (including displaced homemakers); new entrants to the workforce; and incumbent workers. Individuals affected by substance abuse disorder may also receive services through this grant. Collectively, these grant activities promote new, sustainable job opportunities and long-term economic vitality. A list of grantees and the areas they serve is below: Delta Regional Authority Grantees State Counties/Parishes Served Award Base Camp Coding Academy MS Calhoun, Lafayette, Lee, Panola, Pontotoc, Tallahatchie, and Yalobusha $635,000 Northshore Technical Community College LA Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington $1,930,586 Southeastern Louisiana University LA Livingston, St. Helena, St. James, Tangipahoa, and Washington $2,457,701 Madisonville Community College KY Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg, Union, and Webster $1,258,842 Arkansas Northeastern College AR AR: Craighead, Mississippi, Greene, Crittenden, Jackson, St. Francis, and Phillips, MO: Pemiscot, Dunklin, and New Madrid TN: Shelby $2,324,336 University of West Alabama AL Choctaw, Clarke, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, Washington, and Wilcox $2,499,809 Panola County, Mississippi MS Calhoun, Lafayette, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, and Yalobusha $2,154,000 Hinds Community College MS Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Rankin, and Warren $1,327,226 Appalachian Regional Commission Grantees State Counties Served Award Spartanburg Community College SC Spartanburg and Cherokee $2,140,725 Research Foundation for SUNY NY Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins $1,962,182 West Central Job Partnership, Inc.
PA OH: Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull PA: Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, and Warren $2,500,000 Community Action Council for Lexington-Fayette, Bourbon, Harrison, and Nicholas Counties, Inc.
KY Nicholas County $383,668 Coalfield Development Corporation WV WV: Cabell, Mingo, Lincoln, McDowell, Wayne VA: Lee, Scott, Washington, and Wise $2,500,000 University of North Alabama AL Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Marion, Winston, Lawrence, and Limestone $1,098,599 North Georgia Technical College GA Fannin, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White $1,307,107 Randolph County Housing Authority WV Randolph County and the City of Elkins $750,000 The Alcohol and Drug Council of Tompkins County NY Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins $566,521 Goodwill of North Georgia GA Cherokee, Clay, and Graham $1,378,698 The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.
