SACRAMENTO — A nearly $11 million grant will help six California-based organizations develop and deliver job training and career development services to Californians facing some of the most significant barriers to finding employment. This includes veterans, people with disabilities, English-language learners, the long-term unemployed, workers over the age of 55, and at-risk young adults who are not in school or are unemployed. According to a national Georgetown University study, Jobs for All, there are approximately 27 to 35 million individuals who want to work but face significant barriers (such as poverty, disability, or long-term unemployment) to getting hired.

In California, investments like the Employment Social Enterprise program supports Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Career Education, which aims to bridge the gap and equip all students and workers with the tools necessary to achieve stability through good-paying jobs.

These awards from the Employment Development Department (EDD), in coordination with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, are part of the Employment Social Enterprise program.

Employment Social Enterprises are businesses that sell goods and services and provide transitional jobs and support to people breaking through employment barriers. Grant funds focus on transitioning individuals into stable, good-paying jobs — where they can earn wages, gain work experience, improve job skills, and access supportive services. Supportive services may include housing assistance, childcare access, mental health services, job coaching, and more.

The Employment Social Enterprise program is a part of the California Jobs First initiative. In partnership with its 13 economic regions, the State is investing in job creation, industrial strategy, and economic development initiatives, to create a more equitable economy that works for all Californians.