The Connecting Talent to Opportunity Challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, is a $15 million prize competition to strengthen the connections between learners, education and training providers, and employers by fostering the development of integrated Talent Marketplaces.
Donor Name: U.S. Department of Education
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Awards and Prizes
Deadline: 04/30/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
These digital, interconnected systems, maintained by an eligible recipient designated by the Governor, will support the recognition and use of learning, skills, and credentials across the education-to-employment continuum. By advancing interoperable Talent Marketplaces that make learning count wherever it occurs, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) seeks to expand access to high-quality career pathways, increase labor force participation, and strengthen state and regional economies through skills-based hiring and lifelong learning.
Through this Challenge, the Department invites eligible entities to submit innovative action plans to build or scale Talent Marketplaces that includes a Credential Registry and leverages Learning and Employment Records (LERs) to (1) enable stakeholders to transform, transcribe, and transact learning achievements as machine-readable, actionable, and industry-recognized competency statements, and (2) connect individuals directly with skills-based job descriptions used by artificial intelligence (AI), making it easier for individuals to match their verified skills with available opportunities and easier for employers to identify qualified talent based on demonstrated competencies.
Phases
- Phase 1: Development and Results (6 months)
- Phase 2: Acceleration and Results (15 months)
Prizes
- The Connecting Talent to Opportunity Challenge prize pool is $15,000,000.
- Pre-Phase Prize Pool: $1,000,000
- Phase 1 Prize Pool: $4,000,000
- Phase 2 Prize Pool: $10,000,000
Eligibility Criteria
An eligible entrant to the Connecting Talent to Opportunity Challenge is the Governor of the State. The Governor’s office shall indicate in their initial submission the eligible recipient of prize funds from either A or B below:
- An eligible agency as defined under section 3(18) of Perkins; a consortium of eligible agencies; or the following eligible entities as defined under section 3(19)(iv) of Perkins V:
- Indian Tribe,
- Tribal organization, or
- Tribal education agency
- An eligible agency, as defined in section 203(3) of Adult Education and Family Literacy Act
(AEFLA), Title II of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
The eligible entrant (Governor of the State) must commit to working collaboratively and ensuring the inclusion of the State’s Perkins agency, AEFLA agency, State Workforce Agencies and the State Workforce Board. Approval is limited to one application per state or territory. Should multiple applications be submitted by a single state or territory, Governor clarification will be required to select the entrant best suited for consideration.
For more information, visit U.S. Department of Education.
