Closed
California state funding opportunity
High Road to Construction Careers 2026 (HRCC 2026) Grant Program
Workforce Development Board
- Portal ID164637
- StatusClosed
Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.
Program summary
Synopsis
The California Workforce Development Board (CWDB), in partnership with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is pleased to announce the availability of $8 million in grant funding for Round One of the High Road to Construction Careers 2026 (HRCC 2026) Grant Program, a California Jobs First Initiative. A second round of funding will be released through a competitive solicitation in the 2026-27 State Fiscal Year.
Funding for the HRCC 2026 program will be awarded in two rounds. All current HRCC grantees are eligible to apply for both rounds. Round One of the HRCC 2026 program will provide $8 million to existing HRCC grantees. Round One funding is intended to serve as a “bridge” between the HRCC Resilient Workforce Fund (RWF) program and Round Two of the HRCC 2026 program. Each region will be awarded funding in Round One based on an allocation formula intended to expedite funding for grantees to maintain existing regional service levels. In Round Two, approximately $19 million will be awarded to regions with demonstrated hiring demand through a competitive application process. The CWDB will issue a separate solicitation for Round Two in the 2026-27 State Fiscal Year. All HRCC regions will receive a predetermined funding allocation under this solicitation. Funding allocations for Round One are based on each region’s HRCC RWF spending rate using invoice data through December 2025. Applicants must apply for the exact amount shown in Table One of the RFA. In the event one or more eligible regions decline to apply or are deemed ineligible for Round One, the CWDB may reallocate that region’s Round One award to one or more eligible applicant(s) in Round One and/or reallocate that funding to a future solicitation. Applicants must request access to the HRCC 2026 application through the Application Access form and, once access is granted, complete and submit the application through Cal-E-Grants. The CWDB will release a closed, competitive funding opportunity during the 2026-27 State Fiscal Year, through which the remaining HRCC 2026 funds will be awarded to further support HRCC program goals and align investments with regional labor market demand. Additionally, past grantee performance, including compliance with, and timeliness of, required participant data collection and reporting under previous HRCC grants will be considered. Additional information about eligibility, funding amounts, application requirements, and evaluation criteria will be released in the Round Two solicitation. Details outlined in the RFA regarding the Round Two solicitation are subject to change. HRCC 2026 grant program’s objectives are to: Meet demand: Train workers to meet the hiring needs of public infrastructure and construction projects. Promote access: Support entry into joint-apprenticeship programs for individuals who have traditionally faced barriers to employment in the construction trades, including women, veterans, and justice-involved individuals. Boost the economy: Increase employment, boost incomes, and drive economic activity in communities that need it most.
Timeline
Key dates
-
April 15, 2026
Opportunity posted to California Grants Portal -
May 6, 2026
Applications close -
May 2026
Expected award date
Who may apply
Eligibility
Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:
- Business
- Individual
- Nonprofit
- Tribal Government
- Additional info on eligibility
- Round One funding is available to existing HRCC regions only.
- Geography
- Statewide
Awarding agency
Additional information
- Agency name
- Workforce Development Board
- Full announcement
- View the full announcement ↗
- Grantor contact
-
Solicitations
1-916-657-1440
Solicitations@cwdb.ca.gov
Funding
Funding source
- Source
- State
- Funding method
- Reimbursement(s)
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?
Government grant consulting means guiding an organization through the full grant lifecycle — research, eligibility review, strategy, writing, submission, and post-award compliance. GTC 360° Advisors manages this end to end, pairing grant writers, project managers, financial analysts, and compliance analysts to maximize the odds of an award and keep it in good standing afterward.What types of organizations can GTC 360° Advisors help win grants?
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?
Tell us the opportunity and we will come back with an honest read on fit, the partners you would need, and what a compliant submission takes.