Helping Justice-Involved Reenter Employment 2.0

The Helping Justice-Involved Reenter Employment 2.0 (HIRE 2.0) grant program, administered by the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB), builds upon the foundational efforts of the earlier HIRE 1.0 initiative. This grant seeks to support justice-involved individuals as they transition from incarceration to meaningful employment and career pathways. Aligned with the State of California’s broader commitment to equity and workforce development, HIRE 2.0 represents a continuation of sustained investment in reentry populations. The program is funded through a $10 million allocation in the 2025–2026 State Budget via Assembly Bill 102, with approximately $9.5 million made available through this specific RFA. The purpose of HIRE 2.0 is to promote long-term employment success for individuals reentering the workforce after incarceration. It focuses on funding programs that reduce barriers to employment through investments in apprenticeships, training programs, reskilling and upskilling opportunities, needs-related payments, and supportive services. These initiatives are designed not only to facilitate workforce entry but to ensure continued advancement and stability for justice-involved participants. Funding may be used across a range of services, but must align with the program's core intent of enhancing job access and retention. Two project types will be funded under HIRE 2.0: Independent projects and HIRE Networks. Each project type will receive award amounts based on the designations previously established for small and large community-based organizations (CBOs) under HIRE 1.0. Importantly, all applicants must provide a match of at least 50% of the total requested funds from a non-CWDB source. This requirement aims to strengthen program sustainability and ensure stakeholder investment in the program’s outcomes. Required partnerships are a central component of HIRE 2.0: applicants must include signed partnership agreements with at least one local government entity and one local workforce development board to be eligible for funding. The application process is limited to existing fiscal agents and subrecipients from HIRE 1.0, who have already received application access and instructions directly from CWDB. For those needing assistance, inquiries may be directed to [email protected]. A pre-recorded webinar will be posted during the week of January 12, 2026, on the CWDB’s YouTube page to orient applicants to the grant’s goals and application procedures. Additionally, virtual office hours will be held on February 4, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. PST to provide technical guidance related to the online application system, Cal-E-Grants. The official Request for Applications (RFA) was released on January 12, 2026, and the application deadline is February 26, 2026. Award announcements are expected in summer or fall 2026, with the program start date scheduled for October 1, 2026. The total grant term is 18 months, concluding in April 2027. While the exact number of awards is still to be determined, the CWDB reserves the right to modify the total amount, number, and duration of awards based on available appropriated funds and emerging legislative or programmatic requirements. As a competitive, matching-fund-based initiative with defined eligibility and strict partnership criteria, HIRE 2.0 stands as a targeted reentry employment initiative. By investing in community-centered programming and requiring local partnerships, it seeks to embed support for justice-involved individuals within the broader workforce infrastructure, furthering the mission of equitable access to employment and economic mobility in California.