Campesino De California Outreach Grant – Radio Media Program)

The Campesino de California Outreach Grant – Radio Media is a funding opportunity administered by the California Employment Development Department using Wagner-Peyser Governor’s Discretionary funds provided through the U.S. Department of Labor. The program is designed to support outreach efforts that connect Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers and their families with workforce services, employment opportunities, and public benefits. The initiative reflects federal regulatory requirements mandating state workforce agencies to actively reach underserved agricultural workers who may not access traditional intake systems. Through this grant, California seeks to expand culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach channels, particularly for Spanish-speaking communities. The primary purpose of the grant is to fund a single organization to develop and implement a structured radio media outreach program. The selected awardee must create and broadcast 24 semi-monthly, 30-minute radio talk shows in Spanish over a 12-month period. These programs must provide timely and accurate information on employment services, training programs, unemployment insurance, disability insurance, paid family leave, and other workforce-related resources offered by the Employment Development Department and its partners. In addition to radio broadcasting, the awardee is required to record video versions of each program and distribute them across digital platforms such as YouTube, podcast services, and social media channels. Funding under this opportunity is capped at a total of 100000 dollars, with one award anticipated. Funds must be used in accordance with federal and state guidelines governing Wagner-Peyser programs. Allowable uses include program implementation, media production, outreach coordination, and administrative costs, which are limited to 10 percent of the total award. Funds cannot be used for real property acquisition or construction. While cost sharing is not required, applicants are encouraged to leverage additional resources and partnerships to expand the reach and effectiveness of the program. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, community-based and faith-based organizations, tribal governments, and educational institutions. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate experience in producing Spanish-language programming for farmworker communities, the ability to collaborate with partners, and the capacity to deliver high-quality, culturally relevant content. Partnerships are required and must be documented through formal agreements outlining roles, responsibilities, and contributions. The application process requires submission of a complete proposal package including a project narrative, budget documents, work plan, partnership agreements, and supporting attachments. Proposals must be submitted electronically via email in a specified format. Applicants are encouraged to submit a Notice of Intent to Apply prior to the full application deadline. An informational webinar is offered to provide guidance and answer questions, though participation is not mandatory for eligibility. The application timeline includes a solicitation release in May 2026, a recommended Notice of Intent deadline in early June 2026, and a final proposal submission deadline in mid-June 2026. Award announcements are expected in July 2026, with a project start date shortly thereafter. The performance period spans one year, from July 2026 through June 2027. During this time, the awardee must meet reporting requirements, including monthly financial reports and quarterly activity reports detailing audience engagement and outreach outcomes. Evaluation of proposals will be conducted through a competitive scoring process based on criteria such as demonstrated need, program design, partnerships, organizational capacity, and budget justification. The Employment Development Department will oversee the project, review deliverables, and monitor compliance throughout the grant period. This funding opportunity is not explicitly recurring, though similar outreach initiatives may be offered in future program years depending on federal funding availability and program performance outcomes.

Emphasize demonstrated experience with Spanish language programming for farmworkers; build strong documented partnerships; align proposal with scoring criteria and data driven outreach strategies