Grants/Disadvantaged Communities

Federal Grants

Disadvantaged Communities Grants

Open federal grant opportunities in Disadvantaged Communities. Deadlines, award amounts, and agency contacts — all sourced from Grants.gov.

9 open grants
Employment Development DepartmentClosing soon

Emergency Medical Services Technical Assistance (EMS TA) Solicitation for Proposals (SFP) for Program Year 2026 (PY 26-27)

The Employment Development Department (EDD), in coordination with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), announces the availability of up to $1.5 million in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Governor’s Discretionary funds for the Emergency Medical Services Technical Assistance (EMS TA) Program Year 2026-27 (PY 26-27) Solicitation for Proposals (SFP). The EMS TA PY 26-27 grant supports the continued implementation, improvement, and long-term sustainability of established EMS Corps programs across California. The PY 26–27 grant is designed to strengthen existing programs by ensuring fidelity to the EMS Corps model, improving participant outcomes, and supporting consistent statewide quality. EMS Corps sites vary in their operational maturity, adherence to the EMS Corps model, and ability to deliver strong employment pathways for participants. Some programs demonstrate high alignment with the model and are positioned for continued investment, while others require deeper technical assistance due to inconsistent implementation, structural challenges, or limited job placement outcomes. Under this grant, the awarded TA provider will assess each EMS Corps site’s program fidelity, operational capacity, participant outcomes, and alignment with the local job market. This assessment will inform recommendations regarding which sites should receive additional funding for continued implementation and which require remediation or alternative support strategies. The TA provider will also deliver hands-on technical assistance, support federal compliance (including WIOA requirements), facilitate statewide coordination, strengthen partnerships with EMS and healthcare employers, and support each site’s efforts to provide high-quality training and employment opportunities for participants. Applicants must have the capacity, relationships, and expertise to deliver the necessary TA to PY 26-27 EMS Program grantees and coordinate COPs across the state. Applicants must demonstrate prior experience working with public health agencies, in line with the EMS Corps model. There are no required leveraged resources for this project. However, applicants are encouraged to leverage human capital and utilize other resources to maximize the project's success. Proposals will be accepted from Community Colleges, Institutions of Higher Education, Adult Education Providers, Education and Training Providers, Community-based Organizations, Nonprofit Organizations, Labor Organizations, and Workforce Intermediaries. Proposals must be received by 11:59 p.m. PT on October 27, 2026. An informational webinar will be held on September 29, 2026, at 10 a.m. PT.  Pre-registration is required for all attendees. Please register through the following link by September 29, 2026 at 9 a.m. PT: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kovWpmB1Tniff1134w7lGw. The EDD encourages applicants to submit a Notice of Intent to apply by October 2, 2026, at noon PT to WSBSFP3@edd.ca.gov. To view the SFP, visit the EDD Workforce Development Solicitations for Proposals webpage.

Award Ceiling

$1.5M

Closes

Oct 27, 2026

Nonprofit; Public Agency
Public Utilities CommissionClosing soon

2026-27 Digital Divide Grant Program Round 4

The Digital Divide Grant Program (DDGP) will provide three grants for a total of $200,000. The DDGP is funded by fees collected from leases of state-owned property to wireless telecommunications service providers, pursuant to Government Code Section 14666.8. Eligible projects will serve a beneficiary public school or district located in an urban or rural low-income small school district and two non-profit Community Organizations. Projects may address physical gaps in local broadband networks, affordability, access to personal devices and digital skills training. Projects must provide a holistic solution. Grant recipients must be a non-profit community-based organization (CBO) with a demonstrated record of work in addressing the digital divide. For public schools or districts, the CBO will partner with an eligible public school or district to deploy the project. The beneficiary of the project will be the partner school or district. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will evaluate and score applications and award grants for up to three projects using the competitive process described in CPUC Administrative Letter No.33. Eligible non-profit CBOs may submit applications for grant funding. Applicants must have demonstrated record of successful and satisfactory work deploying community technology projects and/or projects to bridge the digital divide. Applicants must have an agreement with a beneficiary school or district to execute a proposed project. In the first stage of review, panelists will evaluate the baseline requirements to determine if the CBO's application can progress to the second stage of review. The baseline requirements include: The application must be complete and submitted timely. The applicant is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The applicant must be in good standing with the California Franchise Tax Board. The applicant must submit at least three letters of recommendation. The applicant must have a written agreement with the beneficiary public school or district to execute a proposed project. The applicant must submit at least two letters of endorsement per the beneficiary public school or district supporting the project. One letter is required from the beneficiary public school or district office and one letter from the beneficiary's school Parent Teachers Association. The beneficiary public school or district must be located within the boundaries of an urban or rural small school district as identified by the California Department of Education. The beneficiary public school or district must have a Free or Reduced Price Meal (FRPM) of at least 50 percent. In the second evaluation stage, panelists will review the remaining applications to assign scores on each of the following categories: Scope of Work, Experience, Budget and Overall. The application window is open from July 1, 2026, and will close on October 30, 2026. For more information on the DDGP, CBO eligibility criteria, the application process, schedules and forms, please go to: www.cpuc.ca.gov/ddgp.  

Award Ceiling

$200K

Closes

Oct 30, 2026

3d left

Nonprofit; Public Agency
Employment Development DepartmentClosing soon

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Grant for Program Year 2026-27 (PY 26-27)

The Employment Development Department (EDD), in coordination with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), announces the availability of up to $8.5 million in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Governor’s Discretionary funds for the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program Year 2026-27 (PY 26-27) Solicitation for Proposals (SFP). EMS Program funding will be awarded to increase the number of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) in local communities with a particular focus in the inclusion of young adult participants who come from a disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds, including experience in the justice system. The selected pilot sites have designed, developed, and implemented programs incorporating data-driven strategies to increase the number of EMTs in local emergency health services throughout the EMS Corps Rounds 1 and 2. The continued funding intends to maintain meaningful and sustainable industry investment and partnerships, bolster healthcare systems, and continue to develop projects with the best potential to place participants into quality jobs and career pathways leading to self-sufficiency. The goal of EMS Program is to recruit, train, hire, and advance an ethnically and culturally inclusive health and human services workforce, with improved diversity and higher wages, who can service the community they live in with primary life support care and support their community's healthcare system, and fill workforce shortages in emergency medical services. Strong applicants will demonstrate the capability to continue existing collaboration between the Local Emergency Medical Service Authority (LMSA), fire departments, local training providers, and their partners, including labor partners, on implementing cohort training programs to increase ethnic and cultural diversity in the EMS workforce. These efforts should result in strategies that successfully recruit, train, and employ individuals as EMTs in counties across California. In addition to the EMT curriculum, this program must also continue to offer a holistic suite of wrap-around support, case management, and supportive service interventions designed to address the needs of the target populations to support program completion. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to leverage at least 20 percent of their budget with leveraged resources from other sources.  Applicants are encouraged to leverage human capital, and utilize other resources to maximize the project's success. Proposals must be received by 11:59 p.m. PT on November 2, 2026. An informational webinar will be held on October 15, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. PT.  Pre-registration is required for all attendees. Please register through the following link by October 15, 2026 at 12 p.m. PT: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qaI8bbIqQFSYP-wYWWuFSw. The EDD encourages applicants to submit a Notice of Intent to apply by October 16, 2026, at noon PT to WSBSFP3@edd.ca.gov. To view the SFP, visit the EDD Workforce Development Solicitations for Proposals webpage.

Award Ceiling

$8.5M

Closes

Nov 2, 2026

6d left

Nonprofit; Public Agency; Tribal Government
CA Department of Food and AgricultureClosing soon

2026 California Nutrition Incentive Program

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Office of Farm to Fork is currently accepting proposals for the 2026 California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) competitive grant solicitation. Authority for CNIP is derived from California Food and Agriculture Code Section 49010-49016. CNIP was established to encourage the purchase and consumption of fresh California grown fruits, vegetables, and nuts by nutrition benefit clients. For the 2026 CNIP Request for Proposal (RFP), CDFA is seeking project proposals from eligible entities to distribute nutrition incentives to shoppers using their CalFresh (SNAP) benefits to purchase fresh, California grown fruits and vegetables at direct marketing outlets (Certified Farmers’ Markets, Certified Mobile Farmers’ Market, Community Supported Agriculture programs, and farm stands) and small businesses in California. CalFresh shoppers should be able to receive the incentive at the time of purchase. Projects that reach low-access areas and low-income populations, particularly communities where a large proportion of the population is eligible for CalFresh and experiences high rates of diet-related diseases, will be prioritized. CDFA reserves the right to fund a portion of the selected proposals, in whole or in part, without further competition. If project funding and timeline allows, CDFA will combine selected proposals into a unified state application for submission to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP). Eligibility is limited to the following entities or combination of eligible entities: a.     Certified Farmers’ Markets authorized by USDA to accept SNAP benefits b.     Community Supported Agriculture Programs (CSAs) authorized by USDA to accept SNAP benefits c.      Certified mobile farmers’ market authorized by USDA to accept SNAP benefits d.     Farm Stands authorized by USDA to accept SNAP benefits e.     Small businesses authorized by USDA to accept SNAP benefits such as retail stores f.       Non-profit organizations that are applying on behalf of organizations that fall into categories (a), (b), (c), (d) and/or (e) Certified Farmers’ Markets are described in Food and Agriculture Code Section 47004, Community-Supported Agriculture programs are defined in Section 47060, Farm Stands are defined in Section 47050, and Certified Mobile Farmers’ Markets are defined in Section 47007. Small Businesses are defined by California Government Code Section Government Code Section 14837 (d) (1) (A):  “Small business” means an independently owned and operated business that is not dominant in its field of operation, the principal office of which is located in California, the officers of which are domiciled in California, and which, together with affiliates, has 100 or fewer employees, and average annual gross receipts of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) or less over the previous three years, or is a manufacturer, as defined in subdivision (c), with 100 or fewer employees. Commencing January 1, 2019, the average annual gross receipts threshold shall be fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).”

Award Ceiling

$13.5M

Closes

Nov 3, 2026

7d left

Business; Nonprofit; Other Legal Entity; Tribal Government
CA Natural Resources AgencyClosing soon

Youth Community Access Grant Program (Round 4)

California voters passed the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64) on November 8, 2016, which legalized the recreational sale and use of cannabis to people over the age of 21 and levied new excise taxes on the cultivation and retail sale of all state-regulated cannabis. Proposition 64 created the Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment Account (YEPEITA) into which the State Controller deposits 60% of the tax revenue from marijuana sales for youth programs to support youth substance use prevention, which is overseen by the Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS). A portion of these funds are appropriated to the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) for grants to support youth access to natural or cultural resources, with a focus on low-income and disadvantaged communities. Funding is distributed by CNRA as grants awarded through the Youth Community Access (YCA) grant program. 

Award Ceiling

—

Closes

Nov 4, 2026

8d left

Nonprofit; Public Agency; Tribal Government
Employment Development DepartmentClosing soon

Employment and Training Pathways Program (ETPP) Program Year 2026-27 (PY 26-27)

The ETPP grants will be awarded to develop and implement projects that accelerate pathways to employment for populations facing significant employment barriers into high-demand occupations for good-quality jobs. The ETPP will develop skill-based pathways by integrating education and workforce training programs to align with the specific needs of the state’s strategic industry sectors which will will not only ensure that individuals are connected to good-quality jobs but become better prepared to enter high-demand fields. The ETPP aligns with the California Master Plan for Career Education and the Unified Strategic Workforce Development Plan to help connect California workers to jobs and promote sustainable growth of the state’s economy.  Proposals must be received by 11:59 p.m. on November 9, 2026. Two informational webinars will be held on October 20, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required for all participants. Once the SFP releases, please refer to the EDD’s Workforce Development Solicitation for Proposals website for the pre-registration link. After successfully pre-registering, a system-generated email will provide the webinar link.   Applicants must demonstrate the ability to leverage a minimum of 20 percent of their budget with funds or services from other sources. The leverage needed for funds is based on the total grant funding requested. Applicants are encouraged to braid funds, leverage human capital, and utilize other resources to maximize the success of the project. Leveraged resources can come from a variety of sources. To view the SFP once it releases, visit the EDD Workforce Development Solicitations for Proposals webpage at https://edd.ca.gov/en/jobs_and_training/wdsfp_workforce_development_solicitations_for_proposals.  The EDD encourages applicants to submit a notice of intent to apply by October 23, 2026, at noon PT to WSBSFP3@edd.ca.gov.  

Award Ceiling

$17.0M

Closes

Nov 9, 2026

13d left

Nonprofit; Public Agency; Tribal Government
CA Department of Education

2025–26 After School Education and Safety grant program (Round 2)

The After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program is the result of the 2002 voter-approved initiative, Proposition 49. These programs are created through partnerships between schools and local community resources to provide literacy, academic enrichment and safe, constructive alternatives for students in kindergarten through ninth grade. Funding is designed to: (1) maintain existing before and after school program funding; and (2) provide eligibility to all elementary and middle schools that submit quality applications throughout California. This is round 2 of the 2025-26 ASES Request for Applications.

Award Ceiling

$30.0M

Closes

Dec 3, 2026

37d left

Victim Compensation Board

Trauma Recovery Center Grant Fiscal Year 27/28

The Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) Grant funds organizations that operate throughout California to provide survivors of violent crime access to mental health or social services that may not be accessible for them through existing avenues. The TRC model offers wrap-around clinical services and cost-effective solutions for under- or unserved survivors and includes assertive outreach, clinical case management, assistance with law enforcement, referral to community resources and trauma-informed treatment. TRCs are meant to meet the victim where they are and serve each victim specific to his/her/their needs. Grant planning is not an eligible activity. Funding for TRCs varies each year with $2,000,000 from the Restitution Fund and a percentage of savings from the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund (SNSF) that varies annually. Individual awards vary by number of passing applications, funds available, and the amount requested to fund the TRC. Grants are for two fiscal years at a time, and TRCs may re-apply at the end of their awarded grant period to avoid a lapse in funding. Each year, CalVCB posts a Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) that instructs how interested applicants may apply and what each application should include. Questions about the NOFA may be submitted and will receive a timely response within the application deadline. Due dates for the application will be included in the NOFA posting. TRCs must follow the May 2017 edition of the evidence-informed model of care developed by the State Pilot TRC, including a multidisciplinary staff that includes a Program Director, Psychologist, Psychiatrist and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Each TRC is expected to invoice monthly, submit data reports monthly and maintain records to fulfill site visit and/or audit requirements.  Typical expenses for TRCs include: • Salary and benefits for personnel •Contracted personnel• Operating expenses related to direct services such as rent, insurance, utilities, postage, telephone service, internet costs, printed outreach materials, and other costs approved by the board• Emergency funds to help clients with nominal crime-related costs to meet the immediate needs of TRC clients such as transportation, childcare, food, emergency shelter, or clothing • Costs associated with community outreach events and activities • In-state training for the provision of trauma-informed evidence-based and evidence-informed practices as outlined in the grant application and approved in advance • Indirect costs (your organization must have a pre-existing cost rate agreement)The CalVCB Board reviews recommendations made and approves or denies the funding recommendation. Upon Board approval, grantees will be notified of their grant award, with all applicants receiving notification of results. 

Award Ceiling

—

Closes

Dec 15, 2026

49d left

Business; Individual; Nonprofit; Public Agency; Tribal Government
Department of Parks and Recreation

Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP) – Round 5 – Proposition 4

Grant Description: Helps support the acquisition and development of new parks and the renovation or expansion of existing parks in critically underserved and climate-vulnerable communities. Deadline: Applications must be submitted online by December 17, 2026. Grant Amount per Application: • Maximum grant request: $8,500,000 • Minimum grant request: $200,000 No Match. Eligible Applicants: Cities, Counties, Districts, Joint Powers Authorities, and Non-profits organizations. Eligible Costs: Acquisition of land, pre-construction (design, permits, etc.) and construction costs. The grant may pay for 100% of total project cost. If the project requires additional funds beyond the grant request, those additional funds must be committed at the time of application. Otherwise, the applicant should scale the project down to a phase that can be completed and open to the public with the grant by itself or grant plus committed funds.  Projects in economically disadvantaged communities with a lack of parks are prioritized.  Parks designed with community residents' ideas through community-based planning and partnerships with health organizations are encouraged.  Visit the SPP Website - www.parks.ca.gov/spp - for more information including the Application Guide, technical assistance, resources, and contact information. 

Award Ceiling

$188.5M

Closes

Dec 17, 2026

51d left

Nonprofit; Public Agency

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