Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Grant Program

The Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Grant Program is a federal grant initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education, aimed at increasing postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion among rural students through the development of career pathways tied to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industries in their regions. Applications are solicited under number ED-GRANT-26-036, with a submission deadline of June 23, 2026, and a maximum award amount of $2,500,000 for a performance period of up to 48 months. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations that can demonstrate proof of nonprofit status, maintain an active SAM.gov registration with a valid Unique Entity Identifier, and register on Grants.gov. Projects must align with industry sectors identified by the state Governor as high-demand and meet the eligibility criteria of the Workforce Pell Grants program under P.L. 119-21, while also integrating meaningful community engagement and measurable outcomes focused on improving participant skills for quality employment. Applicants must submit a comprehensive application package including the SF-424, SF-424A, an abstract, a project narrative limited to 65 pages, a budget narrative, CVs of key personnel, letters of support from all consortium partners, a bibliography, and required assurances such as the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form. All documents must be uploaded as non-fillable PDFs with unique names under 50 characters and without special characters. The evaluation process uses a peer review panel to score applications out of a maximum of 110 points, weighted across six factors: Adequacy of Resources (15 points), Need for Project (12 points), Quality of the Management Plan (12 points), Applicant’s Capacity (10 points), Dissemination Quality (6 points), and a Competitive Preference Priority (10 points), with additional points potentially earned for Governor or Chief State Education Official endorsement. The selection process prioritizes projects with strong partnerships, sustainable institutionalization, and clear data-driven performance metrics, including tracking participant access to services, postsecondary enrollment, and credential completion. Compliance with federal regulations including EDGAR, Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), and civil rights statutes such as Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 504, and the ADA is mandatory. Indirect costs are allowed at