NR No. 22-09
Contact: Loree Levy/Aubrey Henry
916-654-9029
mediainquiries@edd.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO – The California Employment Development Department (EDD) announced today it has awarded $11.5 million in Equity and Special Populations (ESP) grant funds to 19 organizations that will help underserved job seekers find careers. The ESP program will accelerate the deployment of workforce development resources to populations throughout California that have historically faced significant barriers to employment and community services.
“The workers targeted by this program have endured many roadblocks to gainful employment and these funds will help connect them to the services they need to be competitive in today’s labor force,” said EDD Director Rita Saenz.
The selected organizations will serve difficult-to-reach sectors including: English language learners, the homeless and housing insecure, immigrants, justice-involved individuals, people with disabilities, veterans, young adults, and those disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant’s funding will enable certified training and work-based learning opportunities for 2,530 workers currently confronting economic and employment barriers.
To develop career pathways for these special populations, ESP grant awardees will build meaningful partnerships and sustainable industry investments with education and training providers, employers, and community-based organizations.
Job seekers receiving services funded by this grant will benefit from career counseling and guidance, job skills development, technical skills training, and apprenticeships. Some of the targeted industries the workers will train for include: advanced manufacturing, building and construction, healthcare, cyber security and information technology, early childhood education, and transportation and logistics. Following completion of these trainings, workers will receive follow-up services that address healthcare, childcare, and financial literacy to ensure they retain their employment.
Funding for this grant was provided through discretionary funds made available to Governor Gavin Newsom in accordance with the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and administered by the EDD and the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
|
Awardee |
County |
Award Amount |
Industries and Populations Served |
Contact |
|
Berkeley Youth Alternatives |
Alameda Contra Costa |
$250,000 |
Healthcare Young Adults |
Kevin Williams |
|
Chrysalis |
Los Angeles |
$750,000 |
Health and Human Services; Green Jobs; Government; Information Technology (IT) Homeless and Housing Insecure |
Mark Loranger
|
|
Epidaurus DBA Amity Foundation |
Los Angeles |
$500,000 |
Substance Abuse Counseling; Facility Maintenance; Justice-Involved |
Doug Bond |
|
Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board |
Fresno Kings Madera |
$750,000 |
Construction; Forestry; Solar; English Language Learners (ELL), Justice-Involved, and Veterans |
Blake Konczal |
|
Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program |
Imperial |
$500,000 |
Building; Construction; Transportation All populations |
Edwin P. Obergfell |
|
Inland Southern California 211+ |
Riverside San Bernardino |
$400,000 |
Logistics and Global Supply Chain; Construction; Manufacturing; 3D Mechanical Drafting; Facility/Utility Maintenance Justice-Involved |
Lisa Wright |
|
Inter-City Services |
Alameda Contra Costa |
$500,000 |
Cybersecurity; Green Tech; Construction; IT; Healthcare; Biotechnology; Energy; Financial Services; Nanotechnology; Hospitality and Retail; Transportation and Truck Drivers; Solar Photovoltaic; EMTs, Fire Fighters and Law Enforcement Veterans |
Mansour Id-Deen |
|
JVS SoCal |
Los Angeles |
$500,000 |
Construction; Education; Government; Healthcare; Manufacturing; Social services; Young adults |
Kim Fedrick |
|
Managed Career Solutions |
Los Angeles Ventura |
$375,000 |
Healthcare; IT; Construction; Advanced Manufacturing; Logistics and Transportation; Early Childhood Education (ECE); Agriculture, Forestry, and Conservation; People with Disabilities (PWD) |
Philip Starr |
|
Merced County Workforce Development Board |
Merced |
$500,000 |
Construction; Goods Movement and Logistics; Manufacturing; PWD; Homeless and Housing Insecure; and Justice-Involved |
Erick Serrato |
|
North Central Counties Consortium |
Colusa Glenn Sutter Yuba |
$1.5 million |
Automotive repair and maintenance; Construction; Education; Healthcare; Justice, public order, and safety; Leisure and hospitality; Manufacturing; Professional and business services; Transportation; Utilities. ELLs; PWD; Veterans; Homeless and Housing Insecure; Justice-Involved |
Cindy Newton |
|
Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment |
Los Angeles |
$500,000 |
Early Childhood Education Immigrants |
Kerry Doi |
|
Sacramento Employment and Training Agency |
Sacramento |
$726,835 |
Mental/behavioral health; Manufacturing; CNA; Bus/truck drivers Young Adults; Homeless and Housing Insecure |
Kathy Kossick |
|
Vietnam Veterans of San Diego (DBA: Veterans Village of San Diego) |
San Diego |
$1.2 million |
Construction; Health & Social Services; Hospitality; Information Technology/Office Skills; Manufacturing/Warehouse; Public Safety & Security; Transportation, Distribution & Logistics Veterans; Homeless and Housing Insecure; Justice-Involved |
John Laidlaw |
|
Women In Non Traditional Employment Roles |
Los Angeles |
$500,000 |
Construction and Building Trades Homeless and Housing Insecure; Justice-Involved; and other women |
Alexandra Torres |
|
Workforce Development Board of Ventura County |
Ventura |
$500,000 |
Healthcare; Information Technology; Manufacturing; Trade; Transportation and Logistics Homeless and Housing Insecure |
Melissa Livingston |
|
Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County |
Tulare |
$500,000 |
Advanced Manufacturing; Transportation and Logistics ELLs |
Adam Peck |
|
Youth Employment Partnership, Inc. |
Alameda |
$500,000 |
Construction; Community Health; Culinary Arts; Healthcare; Warehousing and Logistics Homeless and Housing Insecure |
Michele Clark |
Federal Funding Disclosure: This publication is supported by the Employment and Training Administration of the US Department of Labor as part of an award totaling $11.5 million with 0% financed from non-governmental sources.