Made in California Program

The Made in California Program is a state-level initiative administered by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), a division of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Established through Government Code Sections 12098.10–12098.11, the program seeks to bolster awareness and recognition of California-manufactured products. The Made in California label serves as a symbol of verified, high-quality production rooted in the state's innovation-driven manufacturing sector. The 2026 funding opportunity supports the selection of a Marketing and Outreach Lead to execute a comprehensive promotional campaign that will expand awareness, engagement, and participation in the program. This funding opportunity invites proposals from eligible organizations with expertise in marketing, outreach, and strategic communications aimed at business development and economic equity. The selected Marketing and Outreach Lead will be tasked with implementing a robust statewide campaign, engaging with a wide array of California manufacturers—from small and rural-based firms to those in high-growth sectors such as aerospace, semiconductors, and food production. The campaign will promote the value and credibility of the Made in California label while supporting CalOSBA’s broader objectives around inclusive economic development and equitable access for historically underserved communities. Allowable activities under the award include paid media outreach, earned media strategy development, public awareness campaigns (both B2B and B2C), event planning and industry engagement, licensee recruitment and conversion support, and advisory services related to certification and labeling standards. Deliverables include written media plans, monthly performance summaries, promotional assets, event calendars, campaign analytics, and quarterly performance reports. At least $300,000 of the total award must be allocated toward media buys, and up to $20,000 can be allocated to each sub-recipient focusing on outreach to diverse business groups. A maximum of $120,000 may be used for advisory and consultative services. Only certain California-based entities may apply, including small businesses certified by the Department of General Services, nonprofit or for-profit manufacturing industry associations, and networks that engage directly with manufacturers. Applications must include an “Equity First Action Plan,” targeting underserved groups such as women-, BIPOC-, veteran-, LGBTQ+-, and disability-owned businesses, and must demonstrate cultural and geographic competence, including in-language services. Proposals are due via email by 5:00 PM PST on February 17, 2026. No late applications will be accepted. The awardee will be notified on or around March 1, with the agreement executed by March 10, 2026. Program performance will commence on March 15, 2026, and end on June 30, 2027. The final invoice is due by July 13, 2027. All applications must include a PDF proposal, Excel budget, campaign timeline chart, organization chart, and standard state forms (STD204 and STD021). Submissions must follow file naming conventions outlined in the RFP. Contact questions are accepted via email only until February 9, 2026, and must be directed to [email protected] with a copy to [email protected]. Program outcomes will be evaluated based on performance metrics such as licensee enrollment across sectors and geographies, media reach, participation by underserved businesses, event engagement, and the total number of employees supported by participating manufacturers. The Marketing and Outreach Lead is responsible for collecting and reporting all sub-recipient data, maintaining compliance with grant terms, and submitting quarterly and final performance reports via CalOSBA’s portal. All campaign activities are subject to audit and must be executed with attention to cost-effectiveness, inclusion, and statewide impact.

File naming format and compliance with reporting timelines emphasized; include strong Equity First Action Plan.