Federal funding of approximately $81.5 million will support industry-driven workforce training across rural communities in the Appalachian, Delta and Northern Border regions, including programs focused on construction and skilled trades.
The U.S. Department of Labor announced the awards on Oct. 16 through the seventh round of its Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities initiative. Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the programme is designed to help employers address workforce shortages while expanding access to employment and wage growth opportunities.
The grants total $81,542,854 and fund 13 projects across 11 states. Training initiatives will focus on industries including construction, health care, information technology, manufacturing, domestic energy production, and business and professional services.
The programme is delivered in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission, Delta Regional Authority and Northern Border Regional Commission.
The awards are intended to help new workers, people displaced from previous jobs and existing employees gain skills that align with regional employer needs. Registered Apprenticeships are among the training approaches supported by the initiative.
Several recipients received grants of approximately $8 million. These include United Steelworkers Local 689 in Ohio, awarded $8 million, and Delta Health Alliance in Mississippi, awarded nearly $8 million. Tri County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates received $7.99 million, while New River Mount Rogers Workforce Investment Area Consortium in Virginia received nearly $8 million.
Other recipients include Tuskegee University in Alabama, awarded $7.5 million; Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program in Kentucky, awarded $6 million; and The 1982 Foundation in West Virginia, awarded approximately $5.76 million.
Although the grants cover several industries, construction is a designated target sector. The training investments are intended to strengthen regional labour pools and help employers recruit workers with relevant occupational skills.
Construction companies operating in rural markets may benefit from workforce programmes that expand access to trade training and apprenticeship pathways. A stronger pipeline of qualified workers can help contractors address hiring challenges and develop skills needed for upcoming projects.
The awards also create opportunities for collaboration among employers, training providers and regional workforce organisations. Construction businesses seeking to participate in such initiatives can monitor local programme announcements to identify training partnerships and potential recruitment channels.
The funding does not guarantee that every construction employer or region will receive direct support. Its practical impact will depend on how individual grant recipients design their programmes, engage employers and connect participants with available jobs.
The initiative represents a federal investment in workforce development across multiple sectors, with construction and skilled trades included among the industries targeted for training support.
Source: U.S. Department Of Labor.
