08 Dec
2023
California Workforce Development Board – Breaking Barriers 2.0
Grant Amount: Not Specified
Information
The California Workforce Development Board is accepting applications to the Breaking Barriers 2.0 program.
Breaking Barriers provides individuals with barriers to employment, the services they need to enter, participate in, and complete broader workforce preparation, training, and education programs aligned with regional labor market needs. Under the initiative, services shall be delivered principally through a collaborative partnership between mission-driven community-based organizations (CBOs) and local workforce development boards to strengthen the America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) system.
This initiative focuses on innovative approaches to, and proven practices for, addressing racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in the labor market. Successful projects will create pipelines to quality jobs, upward mobility, and income security for workers historically excluded from quality jobs and economic prosperity.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities for initiative and grant funds shall include, but are not limited to, all the following:
- English language improvement training
- Culturally and linguistically relevant academic enrichment, basic skills training, tutoring, and adult education
- High school diploma and GED acquisition and other remedial education and workforce readiness skills training
- Industry certifications
- Skills and vocational training that aligns with regional labor market needs identified as part of the California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act regional planning process
- Work experience and on-the-job training.
- Stipends and income and language supports for trainees
- Earn and Learn training, Apprenticeships, and Pre-Apprenticeship programming offered in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of Unemployment Insurance Code Section 14230, regardless of whether the pre-apprenticeship program funding source includes California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds.
- Mentoring
- Entrepreneurial training and support for small business development
- Know-your-rights training
- Supportive services
- Mental health services, trauma-informed care, and wraparound support services
- Employer education
- Activities undertaken pursuant to Unemployment Insurance Code Section 14033(d)
Match
A 20% cash or in-kind match is required.
Information Sessions
Virtual office hours will take place as scheduled:
- October 31 at 9:00 am PT
- November 16 at 1:00 pm PT
- December 1 at 10:00 am PT
A live technical support session will be offered to provide assistance using the Cal E-Grants system. The date is TBD.
Period of Performance
May 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025
Examples of community-based organizations examples include, but are not limited to:
- Faith-based
- Business-based
- Labor-based (including labor-management partnerships and labor-community partnerships)
- Cultural-based
- Services-based organizations
- Employment social enterprises
- Worker centers
Prospective applicants are encouraged to connect with their planned CBO/LWDB partner to allow sufficient time to discuss a collaboration. Points of contact include individual board members or staff in the respective local workforce development area.