Several federal and state workforce grants are currently available for organizations building or expanding apprenticeship, work-based learning, career pathways, and workforce training programs.
These opportunities may be relevant for schools, higher education institutions, workforce agencies, nonprofits, state agencies, employers, and training providers looking to strengthen talent pipelines, expand access to high-demand careers, or support Registered Apprenticeship Programs.
Applying for apprenticeship funding often requires more than a strong program idea. Funders also want to see clear partnerships, reliable data, and a plan for tracking participant progress and outcomes. Craft can provide letters of support and apprenticeship data management tools to strengthen your grant application.
Below are the current opportunities, sorted by application deadline.
Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants
- Application deadline: May 20, 2026
- Funding: $65 million in total funding
- Eligible applicants: Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Learn more: Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants
The Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants program supports community colleges working to expand workforce training programs aligned to regional labor market needs.
This grant is designed to support partnerships that strengthen career pathways, employer engagement, and access to high-quality training for in-demand industries. It may be a strong fit for community colleges building or scaling workforce programs with clear labor market alignment.
PY 2026 WIOA Indian and Native American Programs Employment and Training — Adult
- Application deadline: May 22, 2026
- Funding: $62 million in total funding
- Eligible applicants: Native American tribal governments and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status with the IRS
- Learn more: WIOA Indian and Native American Programs Employment and Training — Adult
The U.S. Department of Labor has released the PY 2026 WIOA Indian and Native American Programs Employment and Training — Adult grant opportunity.
This funding supports workforce development, training, and employment services for Native American communities. It is intended to strengthen career pathways, economic mobility, and culturally responsive workforce programs.
State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula Round 4
- Application deadline: May 26, 2026
- Funding: $85 million in total funding
- Eligible applicants: State governments
- Learn more: State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula Round 4
The U.S. Department of Labor continues its investment in Registered Apprenticeship expansion through State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula Round 4, also known as SAEF4.
SAEF4 provides funding to states to expand, diversify, and modernize Registered Apprenticeship Programs, particularly in high-demand and emerging industries. For state agencies focused on workforce pipelines, apprenticeship infrastructure, or industry-aligned training, this is one of the major opportunities currently available.
Career Pathways Exploration Grant Program
- Application deadline: June 9, 2026
- Funding: $44 million in total funding
- Eligible applicants: State educational agencies, state workforce development agencies, state vocational rehabilitation agencies, and consortia of these entities
- Learn more: Career Pathways Exploration Grant Program
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Career Pathways Exploration Grant Program supports efforts to expand career awareness, work-based learning, and pathways into high-demand careers.
This opportunity may be relevant for eligible state agencies and consortia working with schools, workforce partners, and employers to strengthen education-to-career connections and prepare learners for the future of work.
Ohio OMA WorkAdvance Model Competitive Grant
- Application deadline: June 12, 2026
- Funding: $3.2 million in total funding
- Eligible applicants: Local education agencies where current manufacturing programmatic offerings do not exist, or Ohio Technical Centers
- Learn more: Ohio OMA WorkAdvance Model Competitive Grant
The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association WorkAdvance Model competitive grant supports employer-driven workforce solutions that strengthen manufacturing talent pipelines across Ohio.
This funding is focused on connecting employers, training providers, and workforce partners to create pathways into high-demand manufacturing careers.
FY26 Teacher Quality Partnership Program
- Application deadline: June 23, 2026
- Funding: $70 million in total funding
- Eligible applicants: Private institutions of higher education, state governments, county governments, city or township governments, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status
- Learn more: FY26 Teacher Quality Partnership Program
The FY26 Teacher Quality Partnership Program competition supports efforts to strengthen educator preparation pipelines, expand teacher apprenticeships, and address teacher shortages nationwide.
This funding is intended to support partnerships between higher education institutions, school districts, and workforce partners that prepare and retain high-quality educators.
Prosperity Denver Fund
- Application deadline: Ongoing until 2030
- Eligible applicants: Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status
- Learn more: Prosperity Denver Fund eligibility guidelines
The Prosperity Denver Fund continues to invest in programs that expand economic mobility, workforce development, and equitable career pathways across Denver communities.
This opportunity may be relevant for nonprofit organizations focused on apprenticeship, work-based learning, education-to-career pathways, and workforce innovation.
Texas Lone Star Workforce of the Future Grant
- Application deadline: Not listed in the source material
- Funding: Grants may be up to $250,000
- Cost per trainee: Up to $7,500
- Match requirement: 40% of project funding must come from a source other than state government
- Participant outcome requirement: At least 50% of program participants must be placed into high-demand occupations that earn a self-sufficient wage
- Learn more: Texas Lone Star Workforce of the Future Grant
The Texas Workforce Commission’s Lone Star Workforce of the Future Grant supports innovative workforce solutions that prepare Texans for high-demand careers and strengthen the state’s talent pipeline.
This opportunity may support career pathways, work-based learning, and employer-driven training programs across Texas.
Applying for apprenticeship funding?
As you review these opportunities, it is also important to prepare the systems behind the application. Strong grant proposals usually need to show who your partners are, how participants will move through the program, what outcomes you will track, and how you will report progress after funding is awarded.
Craft helps apprenticeship and work-based learning programs strengthen their grant applications with letters of support and apprenticeship data management tools built for tracking participant progress, program activity, and outcomes.
Learn more about how Craft can support your grant application
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