Employment Social Enterprise Technical Assistance Program

The Employment Development Department (EDD), in partnership with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, is offering a funding opportunity from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Governor’s Discretionary Fund. This funding is available for the Employment Social Enterprise (ESE) Technical Assistance (TA) Program for Program Year 2024-25. The grant, which has a total of up to $1 million available, is designed to provide technical assistance to organizations that focus on social enterprises, helping California's most vulnerable populations transition into the workforce through work-based learning and experience. The program's goal is to assist organizations with the unique needs of their target populations, supporting employment strategies that help participants improve employment outcomes. These strategies include work experience, job skills development, and supportive services that ensure participants gain skills while earning wages. These efforts will be tailored to specific industry sectors and geographic regions across California, with the primary focus on providing supportive employment settings for individuals in need of assistance. The program aims to enhance employment opportunities for those who face significant barriers to entering the workforce. To be eligible for the funding, applicants must be organizations with the expertise, capacity, and relationships to provide technical assistance services statewide. This includes public workforce development agencies, human service or social service agencies, community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations (both business-related and social benefit corporations), labor organizations, workforce intermediaries, and other organizations whose operational structures align with the Social Enterprise model. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Applicants are encouraged to submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by February 25, 2025, and must submit their full proposals by March 4, 2025. An informational webinar will be held on February 11, 2025, at 10 a.m. PT for those interested in learning more about the program. Applicants must register for the webinar by 9 a.m. PT on the same day. The funding is fully federally financed, with $1,000,000 allocated from the U.S. Department of Labor. The funding opportunity is specific to the Employment Social Enterprise Technical Assistance program and is intended to assist organizations providing support to the state’s most vulnerable populations, ensuring they have access to employment opportunities that foster long-term success in the workforce.