On September 29, 2020, The U.S. Department of Labor announced an award of $29 million to 27 grant recipients through the second round of the Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (WORC) program, in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the Delta Regional Authority (DRA).
WORC grants enable communities within the Appalachian and Delta regions that have been hard-hit by economic transition, and recovering slowly to develop local and regional workforce development solutions that align with economic development strategies. Grant recipients will work with industry and community partners to promote new, sustainable job opportunities and long-term economic vitality through grant activities that address the specific needs of businesses and workers in their communities.
For more information on these projects, click on the name of the grantee in the tables below.
| Recipient | State | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation | MO | $1,209,301 |
| Delta Health Alliance, Inc. | MS | $1,499,667 |
| Lurleen B. Wallace Community College | AL | $1,495,819 |
| Management, Training and Consulting Corporation | IL | $1,191,187 |
| Marquette Tech District Foundation, Inc. | MO | $1,364,200 |
| McNeese State University | LA | $1,458,203 |
| Missouri State University | MO | $960,000* |
| NextOp, Inc. | LA | $630,000* |
| Ozarka College | AR | $1,472,857 |
| Southern Arkansas University Tech | AR | $940,569 |
| University of Louisiana Monroe | LA | $1,074,510 |
| University of Memphis | TN | $1,013,896* |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College | KY | $277,291 |
| Total | $14,587,500 |
| Recipient | State | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Sustainable Development | VA | $853,456 |
| Big Sandy Community and Technical College/KCTCS | KY | $1,500,000 |
| Blue Ridge Community and Technical College | WV | $753,104 |
| County of Tazewell, Virginia | VA | $1,443,900 |
| First Tennessee Development District | TN | $1,278,418 |
| Maysville Community and Technical College | KY | $401,910* |
| Northeast Georgia Regional Commission | GA | $618,909* |
| Save the Children Federation, Inc. | CT | $618,909* |
| Total Action Against Poverty in the Roanoke Valley | VA | $1,337,918 |
| University of North Georgia | GA | $1,450,719 |
| University of Pittsburgh | PA | $1,150,631 |
| Wallace State Community College | AL | $1,500,000 |
| Williamson Health and Wellness Center | WV | $1,352,129 |
| Workforce Wayne, Inc. dba Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance | PA | $327,497 |
| Total | $14,587,500 |