Foreign Labor Certification Grant Planning Guidance for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 through FY 2028 (Change 1)
Can you apply?
This grant is for state workforce agencies, labor departments, and organizations that administer labor certification and foreign worker programs. Eligible recipients typically include state labor agencies, workforce development boards, and related governmental entities that oversee Employment-Based (EB) and other foreign labor certification processes. Activities supported include planning, capacity-building, training, and infrastructure development to improve the administration of labor certification programs, including H-1B, PERM, and other visa classification processing. Geographic scope is national, with funding available to states and territories that participate in the foreign labor certification system.</eligibility_summary>
<parameter name="faq_text">Q: Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
A: State labor agencies, workforce development boards, and government entities responsible for administering foreign labor certification programs are typically eligible. Some grants may include community organizations and service providers supporting the foreign labor certification process.
Q: What is the application deadline?
A: The deadline is June 13, 2026, with applications opening June 12, 2025. This is a fixed deadline, so submissions must be received by end of business on the deadline date.
Q: What activities can be funded?
A: Funding typically supports planning activities, staff training, capacity-building initiatives, technology improvements, and infrastructure development related to labor certification program administration and processing efficiency.
Q: How competitive is this grant?
A: Foreign labor certification planning grants are moderately competitive. Success depends on demonstrating organizational capacity, clear implementation plans, and alignment with DOL's strategic priorities for labor certification modernization.
Q: What is the typical funding range?
A: Grant amounts vary by program year and available funding. Check the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for specific funding ranges and whether awards are fixed or competitive amounts.
Program description
To provide guidance to State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) applicable through FY 2028 and announce the grant allotments for FY 2026 foreign labor certification grants. SWA staff should direct all grant-related questions to the OFLC National Office at FLC.Grant@dol.gov.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424A or SF-424C (Budget forms)
- Project narrative describing capacity-building and planning activities
- Detailed work plan with timelines and milestones for FY 2025–FY 2028
- Organizational capacity and staffing plan
- Budget justification narrative
- Letters of support or commitment from partner agencies and organizations
- Proof of organizational status and authority to administer labor certification programs
Program contact
- 👤 Employment and Training Administration
- 📧 FLC.Grant@dol.gov
- 📞 202-693-2606
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 17.273 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$2,222,835
-
$2,221,084
-
$2,186,241
-
$2,018,964
-
$1,923,695
-
$1,773,400
-
$1,770,889
-
$1,752,806
-
$1,675,486
-
$1,631,147
Top States by Funding
- CA 6 awards $12.1M
- NY 5 awards $8.6M
- FL 7 awards $6.5M
- NC 5 awards $4.9M
- TX 5 awards $4.7M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 17.273). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $23,282,000 | |
| 2025 | $23,282,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $23,282,000 |
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate your organization's current capacity and specific gaps in labor certification program administration that the grant will address.
- Align your proposal with DOL's strategic priorities for modernizing foreign labor certification systems, including technology modernization and processing efficiency.
- Develop a detailed implementation timeline that spans the multi-year funding period (FY 2025–FY 2028) with measurable milestones.
- Demonstrate strong partnership and coordination with other state agencies, workforce boards, and federal partners involved in labor certification.
- Budget carefully for staffing, training, and infrastructure needs, and provide a clear justification for each budget category tied to your proposed activities.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants often fail to clearly connect their capacity-building activities to specific labor certification program outcomes or DOL's modernization agenda. Another common pitfall is underestimating the administrative burden of sustaining improvements across the multi-year funding period, resulting in unrealistic budgets or implementation plans. Finally, weak partnerships or collaboration plans with other agencies and stakeholders weaken competitiveness.
Similar grants
- OPEN Rural Community Health Integration2026 — New York State Department of Health
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN Infertility Training Center — Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health