The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) administers several Future Ready Oregon grants and grant-funded programs, including Workforce Ready Grants, Prosperity 10,000, Workforce Benefits Navigators, Postsecondary Career Pathway Training Program Grants, and Credit for Prior Learning Grants.
Visit Future Ready Oregon Program Overview for descriptions of the grant programs administered by the HECC and our agency partners. For information on current Future Ready Oregon grant opportunities and related resources, see below.
Current Grant Opportunities
The HECC is now accepting applications for the next round of Future Ready Oregon Workforce Ready Grants. The HECC will award a combined total of approximately $40 million to recruit and retain a diverse workforce in key sectors of Oregon's economy—healthcare, manufacturing, and technology—through three sector-focused Requests for Applications (RFAs). Workforce service providers and community-based organizations that administer workforce programs in the healthcare, manufacturing and technology industry sectors and that prioritize equitable program participation by individuals from priority populations are invited to apply by
July 31, 2024, and may submit multiple applications. The available funding includes approximately:
- $18 million for healthcare projects—specifically, $9 million for projects that advance nursing career pathways and $9 million for projects that address community-identified healthcare workforce needs,
- $12 million for manufacturing projects that focus on outreach, awareness, and career exploration, and/or on earn-and-learn education and training opportunities, and
- $10 million for technology projects that focus on upskilling and retraining incumbent workers (adult learners, dislocated workers, and individuals employed in high-tech and other industries), and/or on transferrable technology skills, training, and career awareness.
The sector-specific priorities were informed by the Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Technology Industry Consortia. Established by Future Ready Oregon, Industry Consortia convene industry, education, labor, and community partners to identify and address sector-specific workforce development challenges and opportunities.
View the RFAs, Apply, and Access Resources for Application Support.
We invite you to share the RFAs with your networks using our Publicity Kit. This kit includes links to resources for more information, talking points, and sample emails, newsletter articles, and social media posts.
Visit the HECC Grant and Contract Opportunities to see a complete list of the HECC's active RFAs and supporting documents.
Resources for Prospective Applicants
View the Applicant Eligibility Criteria for Workforce Ready Grant funding.
Workforce Ready Grant resources: