Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Grant Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- ED-GRANT-26-036
- Agency
-
Department of Labor
- Applications due
- Award size
- $1,500,000 to $2,500,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Education
- Eligible applicants
-
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Other
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Points of contact
-
- Jymece Seward rped@ed.gov (202) 453-6138
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Labor is soliciting applications for the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development (RPED) Grant Program to improve postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion among rural students through career pathways aligned to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors, with applications due June 23, 2026.
Eligible applicants include public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education, state education agencies, state higher education agencies, and public and private nonprofit organizations and agencies. The program requires no cost sharing or matching funds.
Approximately 20 awards are expected, ranging from $1,500,000 to $2,500,000 each, averaging $2,250,000 over a four-year performance period of up to 48 months. Estimated available funds total $45,000,000. The Assistance Listing Number is 84.116W, under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) program.
Applications must address three absolute priorities: rural applicants, work-based learning opportunities, and career pathways aligned with state workforce priorities. A competitive preference priority awards up to 10 points for projects endorsed by governors or chief state education officials. An invitational priority addresses artificial intelligence literacy skills development.
Selection criteria total 100 points, evaluating need for the project (12 points), quality of project design (46 points), adequacy of resources (15 points), quality of the management plan (12 points), and quality of the evaluation plan (15 points). Four performance measures track participant outcomes in direct services, postsecondary enrollment, credential completion, and work-based learning participation. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and include a project narrative (recommended maximum 65 pages), budget narrative, and supporting documentation. The intergovernmental review deadline is August 24, 2026.
Synopsis
The purpose of the RPED Grant Program is to improve rates of postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion among rural students through development of career pathways aligned to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations in the region.
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