Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Grant Program

Jymece Seward
202.453.6138
RPED@ed.gov

Grants.gov contact center:
800.518.4726
support@grants.gov
Self-service knowledge base

System for award management (SAM):
866.606.8220
Federal service desk

The U.S. Department of Labor is offering grants to improve rates of postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion among rural students through development of career pathways aligned to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations in the region. Applicants should propose bold, results-oriented initiatives that align postsecondary education, including registered apprenticeships, with regional workforce needs, reduce barriers for rural students, and deliver measurable gains in completion and employment outcomes.

Priorities include:

• Rural applicants
• Work-based learning
• Career pathways and workforce readiness
• Returning education to state and local authorities
• Promoting the development of artificial intelligence (AI) literacy skills

Health and human services are among the in-demand industry clusters as evidenced in the Workforce Investment Career Clusters .

Eligible applicants are public and private institutions of higher education, including state education agencies and state higher education agencies.

Award ceiling: $2,500,000
Award floor: $1,500,000
Project period: 4 years
Estimated number of awards: 300
Estimated total program funding: $45,000,000

Links to the full announcement, application instructions, and the online application process are available through grants.gov.