Farmworkers Advancement Program (FAP) Grant for Program

The California Employment Development Department, in coordination with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, is administering the Farmworkers Advancement Program using Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title I Governors discretionary funds. The program is supported by a federal grant award totaling $10 million from the U.S. Department of Labor, representing 100 percent federal funding. The program builds on prior Farmworkers Advancement Program rounds and is intended to strengthen regional workforce systems serving California farmworkers. It responds to challenges including low wages, limited advancement opportunities, language barriers, restricted access to education and training, climate related disruption, mechanization, automation, artificial intelligence enabled agricultural machinery, and changing technical skill requirements. The Farmworkers Advancement Program will support projects focused exclusively on farmworker needs at the regional level. Projects may provide essential skills training in English literacy, math, and digital literacy; occupational and technical training; Integrated Education and Training; paid apprenticeships and other work based learning; agricultural technology and precision farming training; credential attainment; training for adjacent or other sectors; and pathways to higher paying positions in agriculture. Projects may also provide case management, career navigation, job placement assistance, legal services, transportation assistance, childcare, housing and food support, financial coaching, and other wraparound services. Programs are encouraged to use bilingual and culturally responsive approaches, incorporate worker voice, build strong employer connections, and develop models that can be sustained or replicated after grant funding ends. A total of $10 million is available. Applicants may request up to $1 million, and the Employment Development Department anticipates approximately 15 awards, although final award amounts and the number of awards may be adjusted. The period of performance will be between 18 and 24 months, with an anticipated project start in February 2027, and grant funds cannot be obligated before or beyond the approved performance period. Applicants are required to leverage resources equivalent to at least 20 percent of their requested grant award. Leveraged resources may include cash, noncash contributions, third party in kind contributions, personnel, services, equipment, space, employer resources, philanthropic funds, or allowable public workforce resources. Administrative costs may not exceed 10 percent of the total grant award. Funds may support participant services, project specific staffing, staff development and cross training, and required staff travel, but may not be used to purchase real property or construct buildings. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, local labor partners, tribal governments, community colleges, local workforce boards, education and training providers, and farmworker serving organizations. Individuals are not eligible. Applicants are expected to demonstrate expertise in serving farmworkers and delivering workforce development programming. Emerging or less experienced organizations may apply, but organizations without an established workforce development track record should establish formal partnerships with experienced workforce development providers that have substantive responsibility for service delivery and participant outcomes. Participants may be served anywhere in California, although bonus scoring is available for projects serving at least one of the designated priority counties. Participant eligibility generally requires individuals to be at least 18 years old, satisfy WIOA Title I Adult eligibility requirements, and meet specified agricultural worker, migrant or seasonal farmworker, dependent, or eligible young adult criteria. Applicants must electronically submit one complete proposal package as a compressed file by email to WSBSFP3@edd.ca.gov. The email subject must use the applicants three digit initialism followed by FAP PY 26-27 Proposal, and required files must follow the prescribed naming conventions. Required materials include Exhibit A Project Narrative, Exhibit F Budget Summary, Exhibit F2 Budget Narrative, Exhibit G Supplemental Budget when applicable, Exhibit J Partner Roles and Responsibilities, Exhibit K Performance Goals Matrix, Cover and Signature Page, Executive Summary, Commitment Letters, Partnership Agreement Letters as applicable, Indirect Cost Declaration, an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or Cost Allocation Plan when applicable, and a Project Organizational Chart. The Project Narrative is limited to 15 pages and must address Statement of Need, Project Plan, Performance Goals, Partnerships and Leveraged Resources, Statement of Capabilities, and Budget Summary Narrative and Plan. Applicants must maintain an active System for Award Management registration. Proposals will undergo minimum qualification review followed by competitive scoring. The scoring framework assigns 10 points to Statement of Need, 30 points to Project Plan, 20 points to Performance Goals, 15 points to Partnerships and Leveraged Resources, 15 points to Statement of Capabilities, and 10 points to Budget Summary Narrative and Plan, with up to 5 additional bonus points for serving at least one identified priority county. Funding decisions may also consider past performance, geographic distribution, target population needs, innovation, and project uniqueness. The informational webinar is scheduled for September 15, 2026, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. Questions are due September 11, 2026, by noon Pacific Time. The solicitation identifies September 25, 2026, by noon Pacific Time for the encouraged Notice of Intent to Apply. Complete proposals are due October 12, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Proposal review is estimated for October 26 through October 30, 2026, award announcements are expected in January 2027, and projects are expected to begin in February 2027. Program inquiries and submissions use WSBSFP3@edd.ca.gov.

Directly address every scored narrative prompt and support the proposal with reliable local and regional data. Demonstrate workforce outcomes and substantive partnerships. Document leveraged resources equal to at least 20 percent of requested funding. Projects serving at least one designated priority county can earn 5 bonus points. Incorporate bilingual and culturally responsive instruction where appropriate, proactively communicate supportive services at intake, connect career navigation and job placement functions, incorporate worker feedback, and demonstrate sustainability and replicability. Show sufficient staffing and systems for intensive CalJOBS reporting, documentation, monitoring, and audit requirements.