Closed
California state funding opportunity
Equity and Special Populations Program Year 2021-22 Solicitation for Proposals
Employment Development Department
- Portal ID6928
- StatusClosed
Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.
Program summary
Synopsis
Applicants will design, develop, and implement projects that accelerate equity in employment and tailor re-employment strategies for special populations and residents of geographic locations most impacted by the novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19). The projects will create effective linkages with California's employer and workforce community, with a focus on in-demand industries that provide quality jobs with livable-wages.
The Employment Development Department (EDD), in coordination with the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) and the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), announces the availability of up to $11.5 million in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Governor’s discretionary funds for the Equity and Special Populations (ESP) Program Year 2021-22 (PY 21-22) Solicitation for Proposals (SFP). Applicants may propose to serve one or more of the following special populations: English language learners, the homeless and housing insecure, immigrants, justice-involved individuals, people with disabilities, veterans, youth, or other target populations in geographic locations disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds will support projects that build meaningful and sustainable industry investment and partnerships, provide work-based learning opportunities, increase equitable access to quality jobs, leverage other program funding, and provide supportive services for California’s most vulnerable populations. Applicants will braid funds and resources, collaborate with postsecondary education providers, engage employers, and draw on the expertise of community-based organizations (CBOs), workforce intermediaries, training providers, and other partners to design programs tailored to regional population and workforce needs. Eligibility: Eligible applicants are public and private non-profit organizations, private for-profit organizations, Local Workforce Development Areas, education and training providers, tribal organizations, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Reregistration deadline: Last day for applicants to preregister for ESP PY 21-22 SFP Informational Webinar is September 24, 2021. ESP PY 21-22 SFP Informational Webinar: October 1, 2021 10 AM- 12 PM. Notice of Intent to Apply: Each potential applicant is strongly encouraged to notify the California Employment Development Department of its' intent to apply by sending a short email message with the applicant organization's name and the special population(s) that will be served. The email should be addressed to WSBGrants.edd.ca.gov by October 8, 2021. The ESP SFP is supported by the United States Department of Labor as part of a financial assistance award totaling $11.5 million with 0 percent financed from non-governmental sources.
Timeline
Key dates
-
September 16, 2021
Opportunity posted to California Grants Portal -
November 1, 2021
Applications close -
December 2021
Expected award date
Who may apply
Eligibility
Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:
- Business
- Nonprofit
- Public Agency
- Tribal Government
- Additional info on eligibility
- Local workforce development areas, education and training providers, private non-profit organizations, private for- profit organizations, tribal organizations, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations are eligible to apply. Subrecipients from program year 2020-21 are ineligible to serve the same population in PY 21-22 but may apply to serve other populations.
- Geography
- Other population(s) in the chosen geographic location disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 may be eligible to apply. Applicants choosing to serve other special populations must provide justification and supporting evidence to clearly and convincingly demonstrate disproportionate impact by COVID-19. .
Awarding agency
Additional information
- Agency name
- Employment Development Department
- Full announcement
- View the full announcement ↗
- Grantor contact
-
Tuyen Tran
1-916-657-5280
WSBGrants@edd.ca.gov
Funding
Funding source
- Source
- Federal and State
- Funding method
- Advance(s)
- Notes
- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Governor’s Discretionary Fund.
Government Grants Consulting
Federal, state, and local grant funding is highly competitive, and the gap between a complete application and a winning one usually comes down to strategy, compliance, and execution. GTC 360° Advisors supports organizations across the entire grant lifecycle — from identifying the right opportunities to managing the award long after it is won. The questions below cover how our grant consulting practice works and the organizations we serve.
What is government grant consulting, and how does GTC 360° Advisors help?
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GTC 360° Advisors supports municipalities, state agencies, nonprofits, school districts, tribal governments, higher education institutions, and private companies pursuing grant funding. Clients have included the City of Los Angeles, Texas A&M University, the Montana State University System, Virginia Commonwealth University, and nonprofit partners such as the Walton Family Foundation and Blue Meridian Partners.What federal agencies has GTC 360° Advisors secured funding from?
GTC 360° Advisors has secured funding from agencies including the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Commerce (EDA and NIST), Education, and State, as well as FEMA, EPA, NSF, NIH, HRSA, SAMHSA, and the CDC. The firm has won over $860 million and counting in federal and state contracts and grants for its clients.Does GTC 360° Advisors handle state and local grants, or only federal?
GTC 360° Advisors pursues grant funding at the local, state, federal, and international levels. The firm’s advisor network is positioned in every state to help clients identify and compete for regional and state-level funding in addition to federal opportunities.What is GrantSignal AI, and how does it help find grant opportunities?
GrantSignal AI is GTC 360° Advisors’ AI-powered funding intelligence platform. It aggregates federal, foundation, and other public funding sources into a single dashboard, then uses AI to match opportunities to an organization’s mission, eligibility, and capacity — rather than relying on simple keyword search — and sends alerts as new, winnable opportunities appear.Does GTC 360° Advisors provide grant compliance and post-award management?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors manages grants through close-out, including compliance with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), Davis-Bacon labor standards, Section 3, environmental review requirements, and funder reporting obligations. The firm builds compliance systems and reporting frameworks so clients stay in good standing with federal and state grantors.What is GTC 360° Advisors’ track record on grant applications?
GTC 360° Advisors has historically maintained an 88%-plus win rate on the grant applications it has submitted, including a 100% win rate in 2024 across several highly competitive programs. Recent wins include $180 million in EDA Tech Hubs funding for three consortia and $20 million in EDA Recompete funding for the City of Birmingham, Alabama.Can nonprofits and higher education institutions work with GTC 360° Advisors on grants?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors regularly supports nonprofits and universities with grant strategy, writing, and administration, including current work with the Walton Family Foundation, Blue Meridian Partners, Texas A&M University, the Montana State University System, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Working With GTC 360° Advisors
Every engagement is scoped around the organization in front of us — its goals, its deadline, and the internal capacity it already has. Pricing, team assignments, and project milestones are agreed before any work begins, so there are no surprises mid-project. Below are the questions prospective clients and partners ask us most often.
How much does it cost to work with GTC 360° Advisors?
Pricing is customized to the scope, timeline, and budget of each engagement, with both hourly and fixed-fee options available depending on the deliverable. GTC 360° Advisors prices transparently, with no hidden fees for administrative or incidental work, and structures fees so clients gain a full team of senior professionals for less than the cost of a single in-house hire.What is the process for getting started with GTC 360° Advisors?
Engagements typically start with a conversation about your organization’s goals, funding needs, or growth targets, followed by a scoped proposal outlining services, team, and pricing. From there, GTC 360° Advisors assigns team members matched to the work and begins with research, strategy, or capture planning, depending on the engagement.How long does it take to see results from a grant or contract engagement?
Timelines vary by opportunity: some grant or contract cycles run a few months from research to submission, while others (large infrastructure or multi-year programs) take longer and continue through post-award management. GTC 360° Advisors sets clear project timelines and milestones at the start of every engagement so clients know what to expect.Does GTC 360° Advisors work with organizations outside the United States?
GTC 360° Advisors primarily supports U.S.-based government contracts, grants, and business development, but its public affairs and business development services extend internationally through its global partner network for clients running cross-border campaigns.Can I join the GTC 360° Advisors Network as a consultant or subject matter expert?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors welcomes applications from experienced firms and freelancers who align with its mission and values to join the GTC 360° Advisors Network, giving members access to mutual marketing, referrals, and new client opportunities.How do I contact GTC 360° Advisors to discuss a project?
You can reach GTC 360° Advisors at info@gtc360.com or through the contact form at gtc360.com/join-our-network. The firm typically responds to discuss goals, funding needs, or growth targets and outline next steps for an engagement.
Planning for the next cycle?
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