Funding: Vocational Training, Education, and Employment

Offers grants and zero-interest loans to local utility organizations who provide funding options for local businesses. Supports economic development in rural areas by funding projects designed to create or preserve job opportunities.

Seeks to improve economic development, create employment opportunities, and reduce poverty in rural areas, especially disadvantaged and isolated communities. Offers 1% low-interest loans to local lenders known as intermediaries, that then re-lend funds to businesses in rural communities to foster community development.

Provides competitive funding to organizations that engage AmeriCorps members to build capacity, expand services, and help communities address their needs through service and volunteer activities. Supports evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions, practices, and program models. Includes funding priority to implement programs to expand access to high-quality youth mental health and substance use recovery services and to prepare AmeriCorps members to enter behavioral health careers.

Offers funding to support technical assistance and training for rural businesses that have fewer than 50 new workers and generate a gross revenue less than $1,000,000. Funds can also be used on projects to support and benefit rural businesses as specified in the grant application. Supports the expansion of rural businesses through economic development, planning, and other related activities.

Provides funding to address immediate and short-term needs for substance use disorder (SUD) services in rural communities. Aims to establish or expand SUD prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services, with the goal of reducing and preventing overdoses in rural areas.

Offers funds and technical assistance to tribes seeking to develop, implement and enhance adult treatment courts, including healing to wellness courts (HTWC), veteran's treatment courts (VTC), driving while intoxicated (DWI) courts, and other treatment focused courts or court dockets. Aims to reduce recidivism, increase access to treatment and recovery supports, and prevent overdose for people involved in the criminal justice system through utilization of the treatment court model.

Funds to tribes to develop, support, and improve adult tribal justice systems. Seeks to support tribal and law enforcement efforts to prevent and reduce crime, including crime related to opioid, alcohol, stimulant, and other substance use disorders (SUD). Part of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS).

Offers organizations the opportunity to engage and sponsor AmeriCorps VISTA service members to help develop or expand community anti-poverty projects. AmeriCorps VISTA members commit to 1-year of full-time, volunteer service, helping to build capacity and sustainability in programs to address poverty and other issues identified by the community. Requires sponsors to operate and direct the project, recruit and supervise AmeriCorps VISTA members, and complete the necessary administrative support activities to meet the project goals. VISTA's fiscal year 2025 focus areas include economic opportunity, education, Healthy Futures, veterans and military families, and environmental stewardship. VISTA FY 2025 priority population include rural communities, native nations and tribal communities, and those experiencing deep poverty.

Awards funding to tribes and tribal organizations to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions and practices to strengthen tribal communities.

Awards grants to tribes and tribal organizations to plan and develop AmeriCorps programs that will engage AmeriCorps members in projects to strengthen tribal communities.

Offers loan guarantees to rural businesses to increase access to business capital and improve rural economies. Allows commercial lenders to offer affordable financing to rural businesses to support business operations and create or preserve employment opportunities.

Provides funds to establish and maintain Neighborhood Networks (NN), or community technology centers within public housing buildings or developments, that provide computer and internet access to public housing residents. Offers computer training, services, and programs to help residents become economically self-sufficient. Public housing authorities use their capital funds and operating funds to build and operate neighborhood network centers.

Provides licenses to newly formed, for-profit entities to operate as a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC). RBICs make equity capital investments in small, rural enterprises that may otherwise have difficulty accessing venture capital. Seeks to develop economies, create wealth, and increase job opportunities for people living in rural communities.

Provides funding to public and Indian housing authorities to hire service coordinators to promote self-sufficiency for public housing residents. Service coordinators identify needs and barriers at the community and individual level and connect residents to training and support services to help them gain economic and housing stability. Works with local partners to assist residents in achieving outcomes in the areas of education; professional development; financial empowerment; and health and wellness, including mental health and substance use issues. Offers supports to help elderly and disabled residents age in place and/or live independently for as long as possible.

Offers grant funding to 4-H programs to expand mentoring services for justice-involved youth, youth at-risk of juvenile justice involvement, and rural youth. Utilizes 4-H programming to promote healthy development and positive outcomes for the target population by reducing risk factors such as poor school attendance/performance and alcohol and substance use. Supports a range of mentoring approaches, including one-on-one, group, peer, or a combination of approaches, and helps connect youth to mental health, tutoring, career guidance, coaching, and other services and supports.

Offers funding to develop and implement residential and jail-based programs to provide treatment and recovery supports for individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring disorders (COD) in state, local, and tribal correctional and detention centers. Aims to reduce substance use and overdose deaths in prisons and jails. Supports aftercare services to ensure continuity of care and help program participants successfully reenter the community upon release from incarceration.

Awards grants for re-entry services and programs focused on enhancing education and employment outcomes for individuals currently incarcerated with 2 years or less before release into the community. Aims to develop pathways and networks to implement fair chance opportunities for the target population to increase access to in-demand jobs and meaningful careers and reduce recidivism.

Provides funding to intermediary organizations that offer financial and technical assistance to recipients to help meet the needs of their communities in eligible rural areas. Recipients use funds for projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development projects in rural communities.

Helps American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribal communities build and strengthen a comprehensive response to the opioid epidemic by providing prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and community-based recovery support services to AI/AN individuals with, or at risk for, opioid use disorder (OUD), including stimulant use disorder. Identifies and addresses gaps in services and systems of care for OUD in tribal communities, and coordinates with other federally supported opioid response efforts to increase access to innovative and culturally responsive services for people with OUD, including access to Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (MOUD).

Provides funds to support planning, implementation, and enhancement of veteran treatment courts by offering grants and technical assistance to states, state and local courts, local governments, and federally recognized tribal governments. Funds activities centered on preventing overdoses, increasing access to treatment and recovery services, and decreasing recidivism for veterans in the criminal justice system with substance use, mental health, and/or co-occurring disorders .

Supports workforce development activities and economic development plans in rural areas throughout the Appalachian, Lower Mississippi Delta (Delta), and Northern Border regions. Provides funds for career training, and support services to prepare dislocated workers, including workers affected by substance use disorder (SUD), for good jobs in high-demand occupations in these regions. Ensures that efforts align with existing economic growth strategies in order to increase employment opportunities and foster long-term regional economic prosperity.

Expands existing mentoring services and activities for at-risk youth and youth currently misusing or dependent on opioids, stimulants, or other substances. Supports the development of innovative, high quality services, utilizing various mentoring approaches, such as one-on-one, group, or peer mentoring, designed to reduce substance use, delinquency, and other problem behaviors. Offers educational and support services to youth and their family members to address opioid or substance misuse issues.

Offers funds and technical assistance to states, local governments, and federally recognized Indian tribes to plan, implement, or expand comprehensive collaboration programs to improve outcomes for people with mental health disorders or co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders who are involved with the justice system. Aims to develop collaborations across the criminal justice system that will provide healthcare, treatment, social services, and other supports to enhance public safety and public health, and reduce recidivism among the target population.

Offers funding to organizations with the capacity to develop, expand, and enhance housing and support services to victims of human trafficking. Supports collaboration with federal, state, and local partners to implement coordinated, comprehensive housing models, including emergency shelters, transitional and short-term housing assistance, to provide safe, stable housing for the target population. Includes the provision of trauma-informed, victim-centered support services, such as case management, education, employment, and mental health and substance use disorder services.

Provides funds to support the planning, implementation, and enhancement of adult substance use treatment courts for local, state, and federally recognized tribal governments. Funds activities centered on preventing overdoses, increasing access to treatment and recovery services, and decreasing recidivism.

Strengthens the delivery of community-based recovery support services (RSS) for people in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). Supports long term recovery through RSS delivered by people who have lived experienced with SUD and recovery, such as peer mentors, recovery coaches or recovery support specialists. Provides linkages to social supports, including medical, housing, educational, and employment services.

Funds telecommunication projects that support distance learning and telemedicine services to increase access to education, training, and healthcare resources for students, teachers, medical professionals, and residents in rural areas. Emphasizes telecommunication projects that address substance use disorders (SUDs), including opioid misuse.

Provides funding to national organizations operating in 45 or more states to expand existing mentoring services and activities for youth ages 17 or younger at risk for juvenile delinquency, victimization, drug use, truancy, justice system involvement, and other problematic or high-risk behaviors. Supports various evidence-based mentoring approaches, such as one-on-one, group, or peer mentoring, to meet the needs of the target youth population. Works to provide young people with opportunities for personal growth and development, while strengthening community safety.

Awards grant funds to develop, expand, or strengthen victim service programs for adult or a combination of adult and youth victims of human trafficking. Promotes victim-centered and trauma-informed programs, policies, and resources to enhance justice, access, and empowerment for victims. Includes the direct delivery of behavioral and physical healthcare services for the target population under Purpose Area 5.

Provides funds to expand substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery support services in existing drug courts that use the problem solving court model, including adult treatment drug courts (ATDCs), family treatment drug courts (FTDCs), or adult tribal healing to wellness courts (ATHWCs). Seeks to break the cycle of criminal behavior, alcohol and drug use, and incarceration by providing effective and comprehensive SUD treatment services to individuals with SUD involved with the justice system.

Offers flexible funding to provide family-based services for pregnant and postpartum women diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD), with a particular emphasis on treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Assists states in establishing a continuum of care for pregnant and postpartum women in community-based settings. Supports new approaches and service delivery models designed to enhance coordination and efficiency in state systems managed by a state substance use agency. Aims to improve maternal and child health outcomes, decrease infant mortality, and reduce the negative impact of substance use on women, children, and family members.

Offers funding to increase employment and income among families in public housing through locally based programs that promote work readiness, linkages to employers, job placement, educational advancement, technology skills, and financial literacy for public housing residents. Provides support services, such as childcare, transportation, legal aid, and other services, to remove barriers to work. Makes a financial incentive available to participants in order to offset rent increases due to a higher household earned income. Aims to encourage and support employment, decrease poverty, and enhance self-sufficiency, economic and housing security for public housing residents.

Funds economic revitalization projects in the Appalachian region focused on building businesses, workforce ecosystems, infrastructure, culture and tourism, and leadership capacity to meet Appalachian Regional Commission's strategic investment goals. Gives priority to investments for building a competitive workforce, fostering entrepreneurial activities, developing industry clusters, and broadband initiatives.

Supports projects to address the crisis of substance and opioid use in Appalachian counties through programs that help people in recovery obtain and maintain employment. Promotes the development of recovery ecosystems that support individuals as they transition from substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs into recovery and seek to enter or re-enter the workforce. Brings together multiple sectors, including recovery communities, peer support, healthcare, human services, law enforcement, and others, to deliver job training, skill development, and comprehensive support services that enable individuals to find stable employment and sustain their recovery from SUD.

Offers funding to land-grant colleges and universities to enhance the quality and quantity of comprehensive community-based programs for children, youth, and families. Seeks to provide programming and skills to meet their basic needs so they can lead positive, productive, and contributing lives. Aims to assemble resources from land-grant institutions and the Cooperative Extension Systems to provide at-risk individuals with educational programming.

Grants funds to increase the participation of women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Implements research, education, and extension initiatives that prepare K-12 students, which includes students in 2-year post-secondary programs, to enter STEM fields in higher education institutions. Aims to develop a qualified workforce in the areas of food and agriculture to improve economic opportunity in rural communities.

Funds new full-service community schools (FSCS) programs or further development to existing programs, which includes support for planning, implementation, operation, and coordination for programs in high poverty urban and rural areas. FSCS programs provide comprehensive academic, social, and health services for students, students' family members, and community members that are designed to improve education outcomes for children.

Provides peer recovery support services to individuals with or in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders (COD). Promotes long-term recovery supports, in coordination with clinical SUD treatment, that are led by peers in recovery who reflect the communities they serve. Increases access to recovery support services through training and support for current and new peer recovery specialists and supervisors, especially those from historically underserved communities.

Provides funding to support services, training, and collaboration with partners focused on helping individuals in treatment or recovery with substance use disorder (SUD) or co-occurring disorder (COD) live independently and participate in the workforce.

Provides funds to expand access to treatment, recovery, and reentry services for sentenced adults in the criminal justice system with a substance use disorder (SUD) and possible co-occurring mental illness. Seeks to reduce substance use and involvement with the criminal justice system by helping individuals successfully reintegrate into the community upon release from prisons, jails, or detention centers.

Supports American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth in successfully transitioning back into the community after completing treatment at an Indian Health Services (IHS) Youth Regional Treatment Center (YRTC). Provides culturally adapted aftercare and case management services focused on whole-person wellness and community engagement to help youth achieve and sustain safety and sobriety, with an emphasis on employability as a means of achieving program goals. YRTC is an initiative of the IHS Alcohol and Substance Abuse Branch (ASAB).

Offers funding for education and job training services for young adults ages 18 to 24 who are involved in the criminal justice system or those who left high school before graduation. Establishes partnerships between community colleges, the criminal justice system, employers, and other stakeholders to improve workforce outcomes for the target population. Builds capacity in community colleges to provide occupational training and helps young adults reentering society from the criminal justice system gain skills and education to meet the needs of the local labor market and find stable employment in high-demand occupations.

Provides funding to state workforce agencies and tribal organizations to make subgrants to local workforce development boards to address the economic, workforce, and health impacts of the opioid crisis in communities with high rates of substance use disorder (SUD). Supports collaboration between key community stakeholders to provide career, job training, and employment services to help individuals find and retain employment. Funds comprehensive screening services, outpatient recovery care, and other services for individuals with SUD that can also support their efforts to obtain and/or maintain employment.

Provides funding for employment training, career services, and supportive services to women directly or indirectly impacted by the opioid crisis. Addresses barriers to work facing women and helps them gain the skills and support to become employed. Seeks to develop multi-disciplinary partnerships among service providers and other key stakeholders with experience serving women workers in order to meet the unique needs of women in communities most affected by opioid use.

Supports recovery community organizations (RCOs) in expanding peer recovery support services (PRSS) to people with substance use disorder (SUD) and their family members. PRSS utilizes peer leaders, individuals who have experienced addiction and recovery, to help people with SUD stay in recovery by offering support in the areas of housing, employment, education, social connection, and abstinence from substance use. Peer leaders are involved at all levels of designing, developing, and implementing programs.