The Employment Development Department (EDD) of California, in collaboration with the California Department of Rehabilitation and on behalf of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), has announced a grant opportunity titled Disability Access, Equity, and Inclusion Technical Assistance and Developmental Evaluation for the program year 2024-2025. This grant offers up to $1.5 million from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Governor’s Discretionary funds. The primary aim of this funding is to enhance access, equity, and inclusion for individuals with disabilities within WIOA and other workforce development programs, ultimately improving employment outcomes for this demographic.

The purpose of the grant is to provide technical assistance and developmental evaluation to pilot awardees, helping them to create and sustain effective Disability Access, Equity, and Inclusion (DAEI) programs. The selected technical assistance and evaluation awardee will be tasked with fostering a collaborative community focused on integrated service delivery. This includes facilitating connections among pilot awardees, coordinating local and regional networks, developing effective strategies, sharing best practices, and addressing challenges that may arise during the grant's duration.

Eligible applicants for this grant must be organizations that possess the necessary capacity, relationships, and expertise to deliver statewide technical assistance services. Acceptable applicants include community colleges, adult education providers, education and training providers, county social service agencies, community-based organizations, business-related non-profit organizations, labor organizations, and workforce intermediaries. Individual applicants are not eligible. While applicants must reside in the United States, they do not need to be based in California, although they must have experience working with dislocated workers and a proven ability to provide technical assistance within the state.

The submission requirements include a Notice of Intent to apply, which the EDD encourages applicants to submit by September 24, 2024, at noon PST. This notice should be sent to the designated email address provided by the EDD. Specific application questions and detailed submission guidelines will be outlined in the official grant documentation, which potential applicants should review carefully to ensure compliance with all requirements.

Evaluation criteria for the grant will focus on the applicant's capacity to deliver effective technical assistance, their experience with workforce development, and their ability to foster collaboration among various stakeholders. The EDD will assess proposals based on how well they align with the goals of increasing access, equity, and inclusion for individuals with disabilities in workforce development programs.

The timeline for this grant opportunity indicates that the application deadline is set for October 8, 2024. It is essential for interested organizations to prepare their proposals in advance of this date to ensure timely submission. Additional important dates and details regarding the application process will be available on the EDD's official website.

For more information about this grant opportunity, including access to the full application guidelines and additional resources, interested parties can visit the EDD's website at the provided URL. This grant represents a significant opportunity for organizations committed to enhancing workforce development for individuals with disabilities.