The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) is seeking applications for its Rural Healthcare Workforce Development Initiatives.
Donor Name: Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development
State: Tennessee
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/13/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
In alignment with TDLWD’s mission to advance workforce development and improve workplace safety, the primary focus of this grant program is to leverage existing healthcare training structures to expand and support Registered Apprenticeships, Workforce Development Initiatives (WDIs), and Work-Based Learning (WBL) opportunities in rural communities. Applicants are encouraged to build upon existing healthcare talent pipelines by connecting individuals to career opportunities and focusing on the following priorities:
- State and local partner engagement
- Retaining talent
- Recruiting new talent
- Growing existing talent
- Supporting career changers
- Removing barriers and allowing flexibility.
Priority Areas
Through this work, the Task Force identified three priority areas:
- Access to Care
- Workforce Development
- Social Drivers of Health.
Objectives
- Partner & Workforce System Engagement: Collaborate with state and local partners, including employers, American Job Centers, Adult Education, and WIOA programs, to support rural healthcare recruitment and programming.
- Talent Pipeline Development & Retention: Strengthen local healthcare talent pipelines while supporting retention of the existing workforce through ongoing training and advancement opportunities. Attract new individuals and provide training and certification programs for career changers and individuals transitioning into healthcare careers workforce by offering support and opportunities.
- Recruitment & Entry Pathways: Expand access to short-term, replicable certification, credentialing, WDI, WBL, Apprenticeship, and Pre-Apprenticeship programs, including pathways for career changers.
- Program Expansion & Alignment: Utilize new and current resources and expand existing healthcare training programs (e.g., CNA, EMT, Respiratory Therapist, Dental Assistant/Hygienist, Medical Assistant, Pharmacy, and Lab Technicians) aligned with employer needs.
- Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement: Monitor outcomes regularly and adjust strategies to improve recruitment, training effectiveness, and workforce readiness.
- Partner, Pipeline, and Employer Alignment: Leverage state, local, and employer partnerships to support programming and participants; retain the current workforce through ongoing development; build education and career pathways that enable quick, effective workforce entry; and ensure training aligns with employer needs for immediate workforce readiness.
Funding Information
Maximum Grant Request: $250,000.
Grant Period
July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
Eligibility Criteria
- Rural Sponsoring Entities: Organizations based in one of Tennessee’s rural counties (excluding Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, and Shelby counties) are eligible to apply. Entities located in metropolitan areas (Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, and Shelby counties) may apply if the services are provided in rural areas.
- Participant Eligibility: Participants residing in one of Tennessee’s 91 rural counties (excluding Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, and Shelby counties) are eligible to participate.
- Participant Eligibility Exception Policy allows for participant exception and establishes clear criteria for granting exceptions to participants who reside outside of the designated rural service area. Exceptions are intended to ensure flexibility while preserving the program’s primary focus on strengthening the rural healthcare workforce. Programs requesting exceptions should make every effort to recruit individuals within the identified counties before requesting exception.
- Participant Exception form must be submitted and will be limited to one participant or no more than 10% of total participants enrolled during the program year.
- To apply for a grant, an applicant must be an “eligible provider,” and grants will be awarded to eligible providers on a competitive basis. The term “eligible provider” means an organization that may include, but is not limited to:
- A local educational agency;
- A local workforce development board;
- A community-based organization or faith-based organization;
- An institution of higher education;
- A public or private nonprofit agency;
- A hospital or healthcare facility;
- A dental office/facility or training program;
- A healthcare training provider;
- A healthcare association/organization;
- A nonprofit institution that is not described in any of subparagraphs (a) through (i) and has the ability to provide training activities to eligible individuals;
- A consortium or coalition of the agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries, or authorities described in any of subparagraphs (a) through (i); and
- A partnership between an employer and an entity described in any subparagraph (a) through (j).
For more information, visit TDLWD.
