Farmworkers Advancement Program (FAP) Grant for Program Year 2025-26 (PY 25-26)

The Farmworkers Advancement Program (FAP) is a grant initiative spearheaded by the Employment Development Department (EDD) in partnership with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA). For Program Year 2025–26 (PY 25-26), this competitive grant offers up to $5 million in discretionary funding sourced entirely from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I funds. The FAP is aimed at addressing the persistent challenges faced by California’s agricultural workforce by providing opportunities for essential skills training, career advancement, and wrap-around services that promote long-term economic mobility and resilience. The program specifically targets the unique needs of California’s farmworkers, including seasonal and migrant workers, their dependents, and other individuals working in agriculture-intensive regions. FAP grants are intended to fund projects that enable farmworkers to either upskill within the agricultural industry or prepare for alternative career paths outside of it. These efforts are motivated by the reality of low wages, hazardous work environments, labor shortages, and the impacts of climate change on agricultural employment. Projects funded under FAP PY 25-26 are expected to incorporate evidence-based practices and sustainability models to ensure long-term impact and scalability across the state. Applicants may request funding amounts ranging from $450,000 to $1 million, with an expected performance period of 18 to 24 months beginning in June 2026 and ending no later than March 31, 2028. Up to 8 awards are anticipated. Applicants are required to demonstrate a minimum 20% leveraging of additional resources in their budget and are expected to collaborate with partners across workforce development, education, and farmworker-serving organizations. All eligible applicants must be organizations—not individuals—and must have a track record of assisting farmworkers and delivering workforce training programs. Eligibility for funding includes nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, local labor partners, community colleges, workforce boards, education providers, and other entities directly serving the farmworker population. Applicants must also demonstrate administrative capacity to manage federal funds and report outcomes in CalJOBS. Services to be provided can include English language acquisition, math and digital literacy, job skills training, wrap-around support (e.g., housing, childcare, legal aid), and case management. Priority scoring is granted to applicants serving specified counties in the San Joaquin Valley, Northern California, Coastal, and Southern California regions. Application packages must include required documents such as a Cover/Signature Page, Project Narrative, Budget Summary, Budget Narrative, Partner Roles Matrix, Performance Goals, and letters of commitment and agreement. Proposals must be submitted by March 2, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PT to [email protected] in a specified zipped file format. A pre-registration-required informational webinar is scheduled for February 11, 2026, and applicants are encouraged to submit a Notice of Intent by February 17, 2026. The state expects to notify awardees in April 2026. The FAP PY 25-26 is part of California’s broader commitment to building a resilient agricultural workforce capable of adapting to evolving economic and environmental conditions. The EDD and LWDA expect this grant to drive long-term system improvements and reduce systemic barriers for underserved farmworker populations. The funding announcement emphasizes partnership-building, innovative service delivery, and demonstrable impact through performance metrics aligned with WIOA goals. This grant represents a critical investment in the well-being and upward mobility of California's farmworkers and their communities.

Projects serving target counties receive bonus points. Partnerships and evidence of experience are emphasized in scoring.