Farmworkers Advancement Program 2026 (California) - fundsforNGOs

The Employment Development Department (EDD), in coordination with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), announces the availability of up to $5 million in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Governor’s Discretionary funds for the Farmworkers Advancement Program (FAP).

Donor Name: Employment Development Department (EDD)

State: California

County: Selected Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 03/02/2026

Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million

Grant Duration: 2 Years

Details:

The FAP PY 25-26 funds will be awarded to projects that focus on farmworker needs at a regional level by offering essential skills and upskilling training to either advance in the agricultural industry and/or prepare for opportunities outside of the agricultural sector. FAP programs should position farmworkers to obtain access to good-quality jobs, including jobs that pay family-sustaining wages, offer benefits, have predictable hours, opportunities for career advancement, and promote worker voice. Projects will also provide wrap-around support and resources to build skills to prevent job loss and lay the foundation for upward mobility.

Considering the needs of the target population and ongoing changes in the agricultural sector, FAP PY 25-26 funds will be used to implement and evaluate projects for farmworkers that offer skills training for roles in the agricultural industry, as well as essential skills training in English, math, and digital literacy. Programs may also facilitate entry to higher-level training programs or prepare farmworkers for employment outside the agricultural industry. The focus will be on strategies that are sustainable beyond the life of this grant and replicable in other California farmworker communities that face similar challenges. Projects are expected to implement evidence-based practices where available and share lessons learned with the State to create lasting change and improvements in the greater workforce system to support these and other historically underserved populations.

Through this competitive SFP, collaboration and strategic partnerships are strongly recommended to propose interventions that offer skills training, facilitate entry to higher-level training programs, or prepare farmworkers for employment outside of the agricultural industry by funding projects that will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Provide farmworkers with skills necessary to advance in the agricultural industry, such as skills essential for managerial and technical roles.
Prepare displaced farmworkers to obtain employment outside the agricultural industry, allowing them to earn a living wage based on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) living wage standard for local regions while remaining in their communities.
Build the capacity of organizations with a demonstrated history and expertise in engaging and supporting farmworkers to develop programming for workforce development and career advancement.
Help farmworkers achieve their career goals by providing wrap-around support and resources to lay the foundation for upward mobility.
Refer farmworkers who are not eligible for FAP to other entities for supportive services, educational programs, and other programs to provide the services needed.
Test models and learn practical strategies to build skills among farmworkers, including providing incentives for completing essential skills training pending ratification of state policy.
Encourage worker engagement by having workers involved in developing training and workforce decision-making.

Target Populations

All individuals must be over 18 years of age, meet WIOA Title I Adult eligibility requirements, and fall into one of the target populations. For this SFP, the target population is agricultural workers, including the following:

Eligible seasonal farmworkers, defined as low-income individuals who, for 12 consecutive months out of the 24 months before application for the program involved, have been primarily employed in agricultural or fish farming labor that is characterized by chronic unemployment or underemployment and face multiple barriers to economic self-sufficiency.
Eligible migrant farmworkers and dependents of the migrant farmworker, defined as workers whose agricultural labor requires travel to a job site such that the farmworker cannot return to their permanent residence on the same day.
Eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFW), defined as an eligible migrant farmworker or an eligible seasonal farmworker.
Eligible MSFW young adults, defined as an eligible participant aged 18–28 who is individually eligible or dependent on an eligible MSFW. The term eligible MSFW young adult is a subset of the FAP that entails a multi-generational approach to create pathways for the dependents of farmworkers.
Agricultural and farmworker populations in communities and regions with high numbers of farmworkers, including workers with frontline occupations unique to the industry.

Funding Information

There is $5 million available for FAP PY 25-26. Applicants can apply for $450,000 to $1 million for programs that demonstrate a track record of workforce outcomes.
The period of performance (POP) for grants funded under this SFP will be between 18 and 24 months, with an anticipated start date of June 2026 and an end date of March 31, 2028.

Eligibility Criteria

Non-profit organizations, local labor partners, tribal governments, community colleges, local workforce boards, education and training providers, and farmworker-serving organizations such as worker centers, worker cooperatives, and labor unions. Applicants, including collaborations among partners, must have demonstrated expertise in assisting farmworkers and in workforce development programs.

Collaboration can include, but is not limited to, the following: