Employment Labor and Training Grants

This funding provides financial support to state workforce agencies to assist workers adversely affected by foreign trade through training and related services during the program's winddown period.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations working to eliminate child and forced labor in critical mineral supply chains in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia, promoting fair labor practices and compliance with international standards.

This funding opportunity supports collaboration between Minnesota businesses and educational institutions to create customized training programs that enhance workforce skills, particularly for economically disadvantaged individuals.

This grant provides funding to organizations that support adults facing employment barriers in Minnesota, helping them access training and services for high-wage jobs while promoting racial equity and economic inclusion.

This funding opportunity supports organizations that provide construction training and employment services to economically disadvantaged youth aged 16-24, helping them gain skills, earn their high school diploma or GED, and secure career-path employment in the building trades.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that help Minnesota residents facing employment barriers gain essential skills and training for high-demand jobs, with a focus on reducing racial disparities and improving economic access.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in Minnesota that aim to reduce economic disparities and enhance workforce development for Southeast Asian residents facing employment barriers.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), through its Office of Adult Career Pathways (ACP), is offering the Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA) Competitive Grant for State Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027. The ACP supports Minnesotans facing barriers to employment by funding workforce training, wrap-around services, and educational programs that prepare individuals for family-sustaining wages, with a focus on eliminating racial disparities and increasing access to high-growth, high-wage jobs. This competitive grant program aims to encourage and assist women in entering high-wage, high-demand, and nontraditional occupations, particularly in skilled trades and STEM fields, thereby increasing representation and economic security for women. Funding totals $1.5 million statewide, with applicants eligible for up to $125,000 per year, or $250,000 total over the two-year period. Awards will be evenly split between SFY 2026 and SFY 2027. Funding must support activities aligned with WESA objectives, including recruitment, preparation, placement, and retention of women in nontraditional occupations; training and education; innovative outreach to girls and women; employer incentives; technical assistance; and supportive services such as childcare and transportation. Target populations include women of color, girls of color aged 16–17, women over 50, and low-income women, with priority given to programs serving women of color. Programs must focus on occupations meeting Minnesota’s high-wage, high-demand criteria or U.S. Department of Labor definitions for nontraditional careers for women. Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, employers, labor unions, business or trade associations with 501(c)(6) status, secondary and postsecondary institutions, workforce and economic development agencies, registered apprenticeship programs, and state, local, or Tribal governments. All applicants must have a Minnesota physical location open to the public, be in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State, and—if nonprofit—hold a recognized tax-exempt designation and be in good standing with the IRS. Each organization may submit one proposal as primary grantee but may partner on other proposals. Applicants must be able to comply with DEED administrative requirements, use Workforce One for participant tracking, and follow applicable state and federal regulations. Applications must be submitted as a single PDF via email to ACPgrants.deed@state.mn.us with the subject “WESA Application – [organization name].” The deadline is 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, August 28, 2025. Required forms include the cover sheet, narrative responses, work plan, budget, partnership chart and letters of support, conflict of interest disclosures, unemployment insurance account consent, nonprofit financial documents if applicable, and other attestations. Questions must be submitted in writing to Sarah Lee at sarah.lee@state.mn.us by August 21, 2025. DEED hosted an informational webinar on July 16, 2025, and recorded technical assistance sessions are available online. Proposals will be scored on a 100-point scale across seven categories: organizational capacity and experience, program description, implementation work plan, outreach and engagement, partnerships, performance and evaluation, and budget capacity. Reviewers will include DEED staff and community experts in workforce development, education, and relevant industries. Awards are expected to be announced October 8, 2025, with the grant term running from the date of execution through June 30, 2027. Grantees are expected to participate in onboarding, quarterly engagement sessions, evaluation activities, and monitoring visits, and to submit regular performance and financial reports. DEED may offer partial awards to ensure equitable geographic and community distribution of funding. Performance metrics will include job placements, wages, retention, and credential attainment. The grant also carries administrative requirements such as competitive procurement for large purchases, compliance with affirmative action and non-discrimination laws, and retention of records for at least six years. Contact Sarah Lee, ACP Program Coordinator, at sarah.lee@state.mn.us or 651-259-7307 for further information.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Minnesota to support adult residents facing employment barriers by offering training and resources for high-demand jobs, with a focus on promoting racial and economic equity.

This grant provides financial support to doctoral students and early career scholars conducting research on poverty and early care among Hispanic children and families in the U.S.

This funding opportunity provides $8 million to support a four-year project that will enhance the U.S. shipbuilding workforce through international training partnerships, focusing on critical trades and promoting fair labor standards.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations for delivering essential services to victims of crime, including children, the elderly, and other affected individuals, across the United States.

This funding opportunity supports K–12 education initiatives in Utah that improve access to quality education and promote cognitive development for low-income, uninsured, or medically underrepresented populations.

This grant provides funding to organizations working to improve labor conditions in Mexico's key trade sectors, ensuring fair practices that benefit American workers and businesses.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for nonprofit organizations to deliver essential health and safety training to workers at Department of Energy nuclear weapons facilities who may be exposed to hazardous materials.

This funding opportunity supports innovative projects that enhance education, employment, community supports, or health outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities in Alabama.

This program provides financial assistance to recent STEM graduates working in Delaware to help reduce their student loan debt and encourage them to build their careers in the state.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that will help improve diabetes prevention and management for underserved populations by offering expertise, training, and resources to enhance health equity.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations implementing strategies to prevent diabetes and improve health equity for populations at risk, focusing on statewide, local, or multisectoral approaches.

This funding opportunity supports researchers and organizations developing innovative tissue grafts to restore damaged brain tissue, targeting chronic neurological conditions affecting millions of people.