DOR Offering Small and Medium-Sized Business Grants – Apply Now!
DOR is offering small and medium-sized businesses a grant ranging from $20,000 to $200,000 to support the hiring and training of individuals with disabilities. I am hoping that this information can be disseminated to those businesses that are part of Arcadia’s Chamber of Commerce. Here is the link: EmployABILITY Grant
Should any of our local businesses be interested in this opportunity, they can contact Lisa Garcia, WorkAbility I Transition Service Coordinator at lgarcia@ausd.net, 626.821.1729, x1111, or they can contact me at 626.821.1729, x1135, liniguezsuter@ausd.net
Thank you so much for your time and consideration, Karen. I have added additional information, below, as taken from DOR’s website:
EmployABILITY Business Grant
- Small and medium-sized businesses can apply for a grant ranging from $20,000 to $200,000, with the possibility of additional funding in the future, to support hiring and training individuals with disabilities.
- These grants will allow businesses to introduce and expand disability-inclusive hiring practices.
- Businesses may use the grants for equipment, new hire costs, training, consulting services, physical location improvements, or other needs related to the hiring and retention of employees with disabilities.
- Free technical assistance is available to businesses for implementation and support of employing individuals with disabilities. We will provide our expertise to support your business. Technical assistance will be tailored to custom fit your business needs and comes at no cost to you.
HOW TO APPLY: EmployABILITY Business Grant
Apply here: https://dor.ca.gov/Home/ContractGrantSolicitations
Review the funding application and reach out to DSEI@dor.ca.gov with any questions. Fill out the attachments A-F for the funding application titled “RFI DSEI-22-01 Demand Side Employment Initiative”. For more information go to the EmployABILITY website.
Please email responses to: Contractsinfo@dor.ca.gov with the following subject line: RFI #DSEI-22-01 Response Package
The EmployABILITY Business Grant Panel will evaluate each application. The panel will use the following factors in their evaluation of each case:
- Availability of grant funding
- Impact of hiring individuals with disabilities
Also, the San Gabriel Valley LPA is hosting an information workshop with Regional Center, America’s Job Center of California, and DOR. This will be virtual and anyone from across the state is welcome to attend. The goal is to share with employers, support agencies, and school districts about programs available to assist with increasing diverse employment in our local communities and across the state. AJCC will be sharing about the Elevate Youth program which offers 400 hours of paid work experience in high-growth industries for youth ages 17 to 24 years. In LA County they have a county-wide portal that employers can complete to indicate their interest in participating in the program. Although some of the information will be about LA County, there will also be information shared that pertains to the whole state.
Join on April 20th at 1 pm via Zoom.
Please see link and flyer below to register:
Register at: www.tinyurl.com/employ2023
