Workforce Opportunity 

for Rural Communities 

(WORC) Grant

Technical Assistance 

Workshop

May 19, 2023

Sea Talantis

Director of Human Infrastructure, 

Delta Regional Authority
AGENDA

1. 2023 WORC Grant Program Overview

2. Developing a Competitive Proposal

3. Break

4. Lightning Talks with WORC Grantees
Acronym 

Definitions

DOL: 

U.S. Department of Labor

ETA: 

Employment and Training Administration

FOA: 

Funding Opportunity Announcement

WORC: 

Workforce Opportunity for Rural 

Communities Grant Program
OVERVIEW

Partners

• U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training 

Administration

• Appalachian Regional Commission

• Northern Border Regional Commission

Funding Opportunities

• Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) 

Grant Program - $44.2 million

• Award Ceiling: $1.5M

• Award Floor: $150k

Technical Assistance

• One (1) Regional Workshop | Alexandria, LA

• One (1) Webinar

• Post-award technical assistance for successful 

applicants
Getting 

Started

• Visit grants.gov to download materials

• Review FOA and mandatory attachments

• Check SAM.gov registration
Application 

Submission

DATE, TIME, AND PROCESS

Applications must be submitted via 

grants.gov by June 13, 2023, no later 

than 10:59pm Central Time.

DOL will not accept hardcopy 

submissions.
Funding 

Opportunity 

Description

PROGRAM PURPOSE

“...to create economic mobility, address 

historic inequities for marginalized 

communities of color and other 

underserved and underrepresented 

communities, and produce high-quality 

employment for workers who reside in the 

Appalachia, Delta & Northern Border 

regions, enabling them to remain and 

thrive in these communities.”
Funding 

Opportunity 

Description

PROGRAM PURPOSE (cont’d)

“The WORC Initiative is designed to 

address persistent economic distress by 

aligning community-led economic and 

workforce development strategies and 

activities to ensure long-term economic 

resilience and enable dislocated and other 

workers in the regions to succeed in 

current and future job opportunities.”
Award 

Information

• Total Program Funding: Approx. $44.2 

million

• Award Ceiling: $1.5 million

• Award Floor: $150,000

• Funding will be provided in the form of 

a grant
Award 

Information

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

• No more than 36 months

• Anticipated start date: October 1, 2023

• This period includes all necessary 

implementation and start-up activities
Eligibility 

Information

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

• State/County/City/Township Government

• State or Local Workforce Development Boards

• Regional Development Organizations (ex. LDD)

• Special District Governments

• Institution of Higher Education (Public/Private)

• Non-profits (with/without 501c3 status)

• Independent School District

• State or local education agencies
Eligibility 

Information

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, continued

• Public/Indian Housing Authorities

• Labor organizations or labor-management 

partnerships

• Hispanic-serving institutions

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities

• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities

• Indian/Native American Tribal Government or 

Designated Organization
Eligibility 

Information

REQUIRED COLLABORATION OR ENGAGEMENT

• At least two (2) employer/industry partners

• One (1) public workforce system partner

• State or Local Workforce Development Board

• American Job Center operator or partner program

• Other training provider

• One (1) community-based organization

Documentation must be provided as evidence if applicant entity 

represents the latter two partners described above.
Eligibility Information

• Applicants must demonstrate that they 

are serving eligible participants who live in 

the DRA/ARC/NBRC regions.

• Applicants may train for jobs outside 

DRA/ARC/NBRC region (including remote 

work), but must clearly demonstrate that 

employment in these occupations will not

require relocation outside of the DRA/ARC 

region.
Eligibility 

Information

APPLICATION SCREENING CRITERIA

• Submission deadline

• Applicant eligibility

• Application documents are saved in specified formats

• SAM Registration is current and is reflected in the SF-424

• SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance

• SF-424 includes federal funds request between $150k 

and $1.5M

• SF-424 includes DRA, ARC or NBRC regional designation

• SF-424 includes Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) for the 

applicant

• SF-424A Budget Information Form

• Budget Narrative

• Project Narrative
Eligibility 

Information

COST SHARING AND LEVERAGED 

RESOURCES

• WORC does not require cost sharing or 

matching funds.

• It is encouraged for projects to leverage 

resources (i.e. cash or in-kind) with partners and 

other stakeholders.

• Resources contributed to the project beyond 

funds provided by DOL are considered 

leveraged resources.
Eligibility 

Information

NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS

• Only one application from each organization will 

be considered for funding.

• Applicant organizations can be included as a 

partner on other applications.
Eligibility 

Information

ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS

• New Entrants: Individuals who have never 

worked before or have been out of the 

workforce long enough time to make it as if 

they are entering the workforce for the first 

time.

• Dislocated Workers: Individuals who were 

terminated or laid-off or have received a notice 

of termination or lay-off from employment; or 

those who were self-employed but now 

unemployed (WIOA sec. 3(15)).

• Incumbent Workers: Individuals who are 

currently employed and need training to secure 

full-time employment, advance in their careers, 

or retain their current positions.
Eligibility 

Information

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

• Training and Other Employment-Related 

Activities

• Supportive Services for Grant 

Participants

• Employer Services

• Strategic Planning for Economic 

Transformation 

• Purchasing Equipment and Making 

Renovations (Requires Prior Approval)
Eligibility 

Activities

Training and Other EmploymentRelated Activities

• Work-based learning such as Registered 

Apprenticeships, customized training 

programs, incumbent worker training, 

on-the-job training, internships, or other 

work experiences.

• In-depth participant assessment and 

evaluation to identify employment 

barriers and development of individual 

employment plans.

• Career planning, job coaching, and job 

matching services.

• Employability skills training.
Eligibility 

Activities

Supportive Services for Grant 

Participants • Activities or resources enabling 

individuals to participate in career and 

training services or to gain or retain 

employment.

• Grant recipients may offer support 

services to participants directly or 

through partner organizations.
Eligibility 

Activities

Employer Services • Emphasis on small and medium

-sized 

employers.

• May focus on individual employer or 

cluster/sector-based approach.

• Applicants should consider what other 

role(s) industry partners can play in the 

project.
Eligibility 

Activities

Strategic Planning for Economic 

Transformation

• Convening community partners and leaders

• Developing a vision

• Conducting data analysis

• Aligning education, economic, and 

workforce development strategies with 

evidence and opportunities

• Identifying resources and sustainability

No more than $100,000 for planning 

activities!
Eligibility 

Information

Purchasing Equipment and Making 

Renovations

• Capital expenditures, such as the purchase of 

equipment or capital improvements

• Improvements to buildings or equipment

• Minor alterations, renovations, or rearrangements of 

buildings/facilities/equipment

• Leasing space for training, education, and related 

activities

Important:

• New construction or property acquisition is not an 

allowable activity!

• After award, requires prior approval from Grant 

Officer!

• Must not exceed 50% of the project budget!
Content and Form of Application Submission

1. SF-424 “Application for Federal Assistance;”

2. Project Budget, composed of the SF-424A and Budget 

Narrative;

3. Project Narrative; and

4. Attachments to the Project Narrative.

You must ensure the funding amount requested is consistent throughout all 

components of the application submission.
Project Narrative – Scoring Criteria

a. Abstract – 2 points

b. Statement of Need – 20 Points

c. Project Results and Achieving Purpose of WORC – 30 Points

d. Project Design – 40 Points

e. Organizational Capacity and Experience for Project Success – 6 

Points

f. Budget and Budget Narrative – 2 Points

TOTAL POINTS = 100
Project Narrative

§ Must demonstrate your capability to implement the grant project in accordance 

with the provisions of the FOA.

§ Provides a comprehensive framework and description of all aspects of the 

proposed project.

§ Must be succinct, self-explanatory, and well-organized so reviewers can 

understand the proposed project.

§ LIMITED TO 20 DOUBLE-SPACED, SINGLE-SIDED 8.5 X 11 INCH PAGES WITH TIMES 

NEW ROMAN SIZE 12-POINT TEXT FONT AND 1-INCH MARGINS.
Abstract

§ Must submit an up to two-page abstract summarizing the proposed project 

including, but not limited to, the scope of the project and proposed outcomes.

§ Must include the following:

Applicant’s name Funding level requested

Project title List of counties in the project area, incl. a map

Brief summary of the proposed project Intended beneficiaries/eligible participants to be trained

WORC region (select one only: Appalachian, Delta region, or 

Northern Border)

Brief summary of subrecipients and their activities (if 

applicable)

Total number of participants project to be enrolled into 

training AND anticipated to obtain new or enhanced 

employment
Statement of Need

20 Points

Project Service Area, Challenges and 

Opportunities – 8 Points

Target Population – 6 Points

Description of Workforce Needs – 6 

Points
Project Service Area, Challenges and Opportunities

• Must describe the communities covered by the project service area, including the barriers 

faced by the residents, businesses, and communities in addressing workforce challenges 

and achieving sustained economic success.

• Applicants must additionally describe the service area’s current challenges with regard to 

employment including low wages, educational attainment, workforce demographics, and 

other factors that the proposed project will address to help develop or sustain good jobs.

• Describe the components, strategies, priorities or other elements of the applicable federal 

and state strategic plans for the WORC region (Appalachian, Delta, or Northern Border) for 

which the applicant is applying, with which the proposed project will align, and a 

description of how those existing plans and other local strategies will support or 

contribute to the success of the WORC grant.

• Describe the applicant’s definition of good jobs that the proposed project will use as an 

employment goal for participants, and will communicate to participants and partner 

employers.
Target Population

To receive full points, applicants must:

• Identify and define the population(s) of eligible participants intended to be served through 

the grant, including why this population was selected;

• Identify and define historically-marginalized individuals or communities, in alignment with 

the equity Core Principle of the WORC Initiative, to be prioritized for participation in grant 

activities and outcomes, describe why these individuals or communities were chosen as a 

focus of the project, and demonstrate how serving this population will address inequalities 

or other barriers resulting from historic marginalization or exclusion;

• Describe the planned approaches to successfully recruiting individuals from these 

populations to enroll in grant activities; and

• Identify the specific inequalities and barriers these populations face and how serving this 

population through a WORC-supported project will enable them to achieve positive 

outcomes.
Description of Workforce Needs

• Applicants must include relevant information on the current or 

expected workforce needs of employers or industries that the 

proposed project activities will be designed to address. 

• Describe the anticipated consequences of not addressing the 

identified workforce needs.
Project Results and Achieving the Purpose of WORC - 30 Points

Expected Results – 10 Points

Achieving WORC Initiative Purpose – 20 Points
Expected Results

Activities Expected Results

Total participants obtaining new or enhanced employment 

(required result)

175 (job placements or incumbent workers entering a career 

pathway in jobs paying above average for the area)

1 apprenticeship program developed 100 workers/trainees awarded an industry-recognized 

credential or obtained increased wages after training

5 employer trainings on substance use disorder conducted 20 employers hired individuals recovering from substance 

abuse

Outreach to companies to support career pathways to 

promote opportunities for increased job quality.

5 employer partners implement career pathways programs 

that include wage increases.
Achieving 

the Purpose 

of WORC

Applicants must demonstrate that their proposed

project will produce results and benefits that will 

support or achieve the purpose of the WORC Initiative. 

Applicants may include specific results along with 

other information to make this demonstration. 

To receive full points for this portion of the 

application, applicants must demonstrate how the 

successful completion of the proposed grant project 

will support each of the three Core Principles of the 

WORC FOA, and clearly connect the expected results 

to the issues raised in the Statement of Need.

Reviewers will score these elements on clarity, 

alignment, consistency, and that the proposed results 

are logical based on the rest of the application. 
Project Design

40 Points

Project Description - 30 Points

Project Partnerships - 10 Points
Project Description

30 Points

• Describe project activities and implementation

• Including milestones and timeline.

• Describe how the planned activities address:

• Needs and challenges described in the 

Statement of Need,

• The proposed service area’s workforce 

demand/needs and overcome challenges 

to serve the target population.

• Project activities → Budget narrative

• Explain strategies to keep plan on track to 

achieve expected results.

• Explain how the project will achieve each of 

the Core Principles.
Project Partners

10 Points

Partnerships Required:

• At least two (2) employers/industry reps;

• At least one (1) State or Local Workforce Dvlpmnt Board, American Job Center; and

• At least one community organization.

For each partner entity, the following info must be 

included in the project narrative:

• Name of each partner (incl. location)

• Partner’s role

• Committed resources and alignment and long-term 

sustainability of the project

• Supporting documentation (required!)

• Letter of need/engagement
Organizational 

Capacity and 

Experience for 

Project Success

6 Points

Must describe how the applicant 

(incl. program team, partners, and 

others) has the capacity and 

expertise to achieve successful 

outcomes for their proposed 

project.

Attachments:

• Past Performance Documentation 

(if applicable)

• Financial System Risk Assessment 

Information (requested)

• Work experience (i.e. resume) or 

job descriptions (required)
Budget and Budget 

Narrative

2 Points

Budget

• SF-424

Application for Federal 

Assistance

• SF-424A

Budget Information Form

Budget Narrative

• Personnel 

• Fringe Benefits

• Travel

• Equipment ($5,000 +)

• Supplies (less than $5,000)

• Contractual

• Construction***

• Other

• Indirect Costs
Required 

Attachments 

to Project 

Narrative

Abstract (two pages)

To receive full points the abstract must contain:

• Applicant’s name;

• WORC region (only one);

• Project title;

• Summary, including scope of project and 

proposed outcomes;

• Participant information (enrollment, etc.);

• Funding level requested;

• List of counties/parishes served and map;

• Intended participants to be trained;

• Subrecipients.
Requested 

Attachments 

to Project 

Narrative

• Evidence of Required 

Partnerships

• Indirect Cost Rate Agreement • Financial System Assessment 

Information

• Project Timeline • Key Staff Experience or Job 

Descriptions
Application Review

• You MUST include all information identified in the table in Section III.C.1—failure 

to include any item in the table will result in your application not being reviewed.

• Applications are reviewed by a panel and scored individually against the 

elements in the FOA in section V.A.

• The total number of grants awarded will depend upon the number of 

competitive applications and the amounts requested (approx. 30 grants total).
Common Mistakes

• Not following the FOA requirements and scoring criteria.

• An unclear and unconcise project narrative and description.

• Using form letters from project and employment partners.

• Not aligning the project narrative/description to the budget.

• Failure to include key personnel resumes and job descriptions.

• Not naming attachments with clear and direct file names.
Agency 

Contacts

Questions about the FOA?

Sabrina Guerrier, Grants Management 

Specialist

DOL-ETA-DWG@dol.gov

(reference: FOA-ETA-23-07)

Questions about projects?

workforce@dra.gov

stalantis@dra.gov