Policy Signals Archives

We are constantly tracking trends shaping funding opportunities.

We follow federal policy signals, appropriations activity, and recent grant awards to understand how workforce and postsecondary priorities are evolving ahead of the next funding cycle. A clearer picture is emerging of where agencies are concentrating resources: stronger employer alignment, measurable outcomes, and targeted—if cautious—investments in innovation and institutional capacity.

July 1, 2026

Funding Insights | Funding Opportunities |
Current Funding Opportunities
Current Funding Opportunities (Workforce & Economic Development) A range of federal, state, and philanthropic funding opportunities are currently available to support workforce and economic ...
June 30, 2026

Funding Insights | Funding Opportunities, funding opportunity, Grant Tracker |
Rapid Reskill Employment Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grants (Reskill DWGs) — U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
The U.S. Department of Labor has released $50 million for Rapid Reskill Employment Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grants to...
June 23, 2026

Funding Insights | Policy Signals |
Executive Brief: Federal Workforce & Economic Development Policy Signals (FY 2027)
New Growth's Policy Signals Scout™ framework helps workforce, education, economic development, and community leaders anticipate federal policy shifts before they...
June 10, 2026

Funding Insights | Funding Opportunities, funding opportunity, Grant Tracker |
WORC Round 7 Grants: Up to $8 Million for Rural Workforce Development and Apprenticeship Programs
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Round 7, making approximately $49.2 million available...
June 10, 2026

Funding Insights | Funding Opportunities, funding opportunity, Grant Tracker |
BlackRock Future Builders Grants for Workforce Development, Apprenticeships, and Skilled Trades Training
BlackRock Future Builders provides substantial workforce development funding for nonprofit organizations supporting skilled trades training, apprenticeships, career navigation, and infrastructure...
June 5, 2026

Funding Insights | Funding Opportunities, funding opportunity, Grant Tracker |
EDA AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program: Grant Writing Support for Workforce Development & AI Training Funding
Explore the EDA AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program and secure funding for AI workforce training, sector partnerships, and economic development...
June 2, 2026

Funding Insights | Policy Signals |
Policy Signals: Federal workforce and economic development policy
Stay ahead of federal workforce, education, and economic development trends with insights from New Growth, helping organizations identify funding opportunities,...
May 27, 2026

Funding Insights | Funding Opportunities, funding opportunity, Grant Tracker |
NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Research Incubators for STEM Excellence (E-RISE)
Explore the NSF EPSCoR E-RISE funding opportunity supporting STEM research infrastructure, workforce development, and regional innovation ecosystems. The New Growth...
May 26, 2026

Funding Insights | Funding Opportunities, funding opportunity, Grant Tracker |
🚨 Funding alert: Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs (SBIR/STTR)
Explore NSF’s new SBIR/STTR funding opportunity for scientific instrumentation, AI-enabled research tools, and deep-tech innovation. The New Growth Team can...
May 22, 2026

Funding Insights | funding opportunity, Grant Tracker |
Title III: Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) competition
Explore the FY 2026 Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant opportunity supporting workforce development, AI literacy, short-term credential programs, student success,...
May 21, 2026

Funding Insights | Funding Opportunities, Grant Tracker |
USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program
Discover the USDA Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) FY26 funding opportunity supporting rural economic development, workforce training, entrepreneurship, and small...
May 20, 2026

Funding Insights | Funding Opportunities, Grant Tracker |
Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant Program
Learn how Pennsylvania’s Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant Program can support workforce training, manufacturing career pathways, and youth engagement initiatives. New...
May 20, 2026

Funding Insights | Funding Opportunities |
Manufacturing in America – Education to Generation (E2G) Grant Initiative
Explore the Manufacturing in America – Education to Generation (E2G) Grant Initiative from the Gene Haas Foundation, supporting advanced manufacturing...
May 10, 2026

Funding Insights | funding opportunity |
Rural Community Health Support Program (HRSA-26-083) | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
The Rural Community Health Support Program from HRSA is a national-level opportunity to strengthen healthcare access and delivery in rural...
May 6, 2026

Funding Insights | funding opportunity |
TechAccess: AI-Ready America (NSF 26-508) | U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
The National Science Foundation’s TechAccess: AI-Ready America initiative is a major new federal investment aimed at helping states build the...
April 29, 2026

Funding Insights | Funding Opportunities |
New Workforce Funding Opportunity: CCAMPIS
A new workforce funding opportunity was just released. The NIST RAMPS Cybersecurity Education & Workforce Development Program.
April 22, 2026

Funding Insights | Funding Opportunities |
New Workforce Funding Opportunity: NIST RAMPS
A new workforce funding opportunity was just released. The NIST RAMPS Cybersecurity Education & Workforce Development Program.
April 10, 2026

Funding Insights | Policy Signals |
Current Federal Workforce and Economic Development Policy Signals
Federal workforce policy in April 2026 reflects a shift from strategy to execution. Agencies are clarifying how priorities operate through...
March 17, 2026

Funding Insights | Policy Signals |
Policy Signals: Federal workforce and economic development policy
Institutions that bring workforce development, innovation strategy, employer demand, and regional coordination together into a single, integrated operating model are...
January 10, 2026

Funding Insights | Grant Tracker |
Longer-term federal grantmaking is converging around STEM, skilled-trades development, and regional innovation.
Federal grants increasingly prioritize STEM, skilled-trades, and regional competitiveness, rewarding community colleges and partnerships delivering job-ready talent pipelines and measurable...
January 10, 2026

Funding Insights | Grant Tracker |
Recent FIPSE awards provide a clear indicator of near-term higher education grant.
Recent FIPSE awards emphasize AI-enhanced teaching, short-term credentials, and applied workforce programs supporting AI infrastructure jobs like construction, electrical, and...
January 10, 2026

Funding Insights | Policy Signals |
Employer-aligned training and Registered Apprenticeships are now central to federal workforce strategy.
Federal workforce strategy centers on employer-aligned training and Registered Apprenticeships, emphasizing scalable, work-based learning and sector partnerships responding directly to...
January 10, 2026

Funding Insights | Grant IQ |
FY 2026 appropriations activity points to a tightened but more targeted federal grant environment.
FY 2026 appropriations reflect tighter, targeted funding emphasizing public safety, infrastructure, and defense-adjacent research, rewarding applicants demonstrating accountability, measurable outcomes,...

Funding Insights

We are constantly tracking trends shaping funding opportunities.

Current Funding Opportunities

Rapid Reskill Employment Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grants (Reskill DWGs) — U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA)

Executive Brief: Federal Workforce & Economic Development Policy Signals (FY 2027)

WORC Round 7 Grants: Up to $8 Million for Rural Workforce Development and Apprenticeship Programs

BlackRock Future Builders Grants for Workforce Development, Apprenticeships, and Skilled Trades Training

EDA AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program: Grant Writing Support for Workforce Development & AI Training Funding

Policy Signals: Federal workforce and economic development policy

NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Research Incubators for STEM Excellence (E-RISE)

🚨 Funding alert: Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs (SBIR/STTR)

Title III: Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) competition

USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program

Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant Program

Manufacturing in America – Education to Generation (E2G) Grant Initiative

Rural Community Health Support Program (HRSA-26-083) | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

TechAccess: AI-Ready America (NSF 26-508) | U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)

New Workforce Funding Opportunity: CCAMPIS

New Workforce Funding Opportunity: NIST RAMPS

Current Federal Workforce and Economic Development Policy Signals

Policy Signals: Federal workforce and economic development policy

Longer-term federal grantmaking is converging around STEM, skilled-trades development, and regional innovation.

Recent FIPSE awards provide a clear indicator of near-term higher education grant.

Employer-aligned training and Registered Apprenticeships are now central to federal workforce strategy.

FY 2026 appropriations activity points to a tightened but more targeted federal grant environment.

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