Burns Media Intelligence for Professionals
← All CFDA guides
CFDA / Assistance Listing · Reference

CFDA 17.207: Employment Service / Wagner-Peyser

Formula-based federal funding to states for public employment services delivered through the American Job Center network. Backbone of the federal-state workforce development system.

Typical award
State allocations from $5M to $250M+ per year (population and unemployment-rate based formula)
Eligible applicants
  • State Workforce Agencies (primary recipients)
  • Local Workforce Development Boards
  • American Job Centers and partner agencies
  • Community-based 501(c)(3)s providing workforce services (sub-recipients)

What this CFDA funds

Job-search assistance, labor exchange services, recruitment for employers, job-skills assessment, career counseling, referral to training, support for veterans and migrant workers. Operates alongside Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I formula funds.

What winning applicants look like

State workforce agencies are primary recipients. Local boards and 501(c)(3) workforce service providers typically access funds through state pass-through or via local AJC partnership agreements.

Common pitfalls + things to know

Wagner-Peyser and WIOA Title III are tightly intertwined — proposals need to demonstrate WIOA partner integration. Performance metrics (employment rate Q2 and Q4 post-exit, median earnings, credential attainment, measurable skill gain) are codified and reported quarterly. Underperformance triggers state-level corrective action.

Related CFDAs to also explore

Track every CFDA 17.207 NOFO automatically

Grants Wire Pro emails you a daily digest of every Grants.gov NOFO matching your CFDA codes — including this one. Capability-statement fit scoring + AI application analysis on each match. 7-day free trial, $49/mo after.

Start 7-day free trial →

Always verify in the official source. CFDA program details, eligibility, and award ranges change with each annual NOFO cycle. Confirm at sam.gov/content/assistance-listings or the agency's program office before you build an application strategy. This page is editorial reference, not an official agency notice.