Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP) (ND) Grant

Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP) (ND) Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: North Dakota Department of Commerce
Amount: Up to US $500,000
Last Updated: September 13, 2025

Summary

The Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP) in North Dakota aims to empower local solutions to workforce challenges by providing tailored funding mechanisms. This program focuses on addressing the specific workforce needs of various regions, promoting economic stability through collaboration and innovative initiatives. By increasing participation and leveraging existing resources, the RWIP is designed to enhance workforce development, ensuring that both rural and urban communities can thrive. Grant caps vary based on the funding purpose.

Overview

Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP) (ND) Purpose The goal of the Regional Workforce Impact Program is to empower locally led solutions to one of the state’s greatest challenges. Workforce needs vary by region throughout North Dakota, so a one size fits all approach is unrealistic and would not adequately address challenges in all parts of the state. By creating a regional funding mechanism to support workforce initiatives, local and regional partners have the opportunity to articulate their needs and the ability to access funding to address them. The Department of Commerce aims to increase participation in the workforce statewide by equipping communities with resources to invest in initiatives that are catered to the needs of their region. An application’s proposed solution must address the region’s most immediate workforce challenges. This program will assist applicants in funding workforce initiatives that promote economic stability and prosperity by addressing workforce challenges. The Department of Commerce encourages utilizing new and existing collaborations of regional partners to leverage resources that foster the development of partnerships to implement sustainable workforce development solutions. Collaboration to develop initiatives that address the region’s most pressing workforce challenges and impact various geographies and/or populations throughout the region representing both rural and urban is encouraged; however, it is not required. Each project will be submitted on its own application. A single application on behalf of the region is no longer required. Applicants must be able to articulate the greatest impact possible to the region as a whole. Please note that regions are defined as the eight planning regions, although the impact of a project may extend beyond a region’s borders. Funding Talent attraction marketing and locally implemented strategies for business, industry, and communities that leverages existing statewide assets like Find the Good Life platform and pipeline to recruit employees nationwide and retain students and recent graduates. - cap of $250,000Retention - cap of $250,000.00 Infrastructure investments that directly relate to the proposed workforce solution – cap of $500,000Infrastructure investments that expand a childcare center – cap of $500,000The childcare must be a center and cannot be home-based or in a site that can be repurposed for housingCapital investments, capital purchases for new or renovated space to support the applicant’s proposed program must be able to show direct influence on the workforce solution- cap of $500,000.

Eligibility

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