FY26 Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Technical Assistance Grant Program
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau is offering the FY26 Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Technical Assistance Grant Program to fund technical assistance that increases women’s participation in apprenticeable and other nontraditional occupations. The grants support community-based organizations that work with employers and labor unions to develop or expand pre-apprenticeships, provide orientations and related resources, and create support groups and other services to improve retention. The program focuses on occupations such as advanced manufacturing, AI, IT, mining, and shipbuilding and defense industrial base work, with priority for projects serving the Southcentral region and high-demand occupations; the performance period is 24 months beginning September 30, 2026. Applications are due July 6, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time and must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, with approximately $10 million available for an estimated 13 to 28 awards ranging from $350,000 to $750,000.
Eligible Applicants
Faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply, as are any eligible organizations. Those that meet the eligibility requirements may receive awards under this funding opportunity. DOL will not, in the selection of recipients and administration of the grant, discriminate on the basis of an organization's religious character, affiliation, exercise, or lack thereof, or on the basis of conduct that would not be considered grounds to favor or disfavor a similarly situated secular organization. Please also note these additional eligibility requirements: Only CBOs as defined in Section III.G. are eligible to apply for these grants. A consortium of CBOs may apply as a single applicant; in such instances, the applicant should provide a copy of the consortium agreement that specifies which entity will administer the grant. Please see Section III of the Funding Oppportunity Announcement for all eligibility requirements.