Disability Employment Accelerator PY 20-21 Awards

Workforce Services Information Notice
WSIN20-64

Issued: May 14, 2021

The Employment Development Department (EDD), in coordination with the California Workforce Development Board, and on behalf of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, is pleased to announce the award of $2 million of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds for the Disability Employment Accelerator (DEA) grant for Program Year (PY) 2020-21. These funds will provide job training and employment opportunities to 535 people with disabilities (PWD) facing barriers to employment.

Funds will connect applicants and employers in the following California Counties: Amador, Calaveras, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Sacramento, San Diego, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Ventura counties. Six organizations were selected for funding. All six entities submitted proposals via a competitive process.

Awards ranged from $250,000-$350,000 and will be used to support projects that increase access for target populations, align WIOA programs, implement co-enrollment strategies, leverage other program funding, provide supportive services and create onramps to career pathways and or pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship opportunities for California’s PWD population. This year’s DEA focuses on implementing strategies to target viable industry sectors, these organizations will work with local businesses and industry leaders to develop work-based learning programs to help PWD obtain and retain competitive, integrated employment. These organizations will provide the training needed to fill positions in local, high-growth industries such as advanced manufacturing, construction, educational services, healthcare, information technology, logistics and transportation, professional and business services, and technology. The EDD expects that the performance period will be between 18-20 months. A list of the awardees and descriptions of their projects is available on the EDD Workforce Development Solicitations for Proposals webpage.

If you have any questions regarding the DEA grant awards, please email WSBSFP2@edd.ca.gov.

/s/ JAIME L. GUTIERREZ, Chief
Central Office Workforce Services Division