CA · Customized

California Customized Training Grants: A Practical Employer Guide

California has no separate state program called customized training. Two routes fit the idea. Your local workforce board can fund WIOA customized training, where you design the training, pay a significant share (Long Beach and Alameda County set it at 50%) and commit to hire or keep the workers. ETP also pays $28 an hour to train new hires who were on unemployment insurance, after they finish and stay employed.

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State pre-filled: CA
Program type pre-filled: customized_training

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HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

1
Pick your local board (WIOA) or ETP
2
Get a signed contract or Panel approval before training
3
Train the workers you commit to hire
4
Get paid after completion and retention

2 VERIFIED PROGRAMS

Where the California money comes from.

Run by Local workforce development boards (America's Job Center of California) under EDD; Employment Training Panel for new hire training. Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

WIOA Customized Training through your local workforce board

You pay at least 50% in Long Beach and Alameda

THROUGH YOUR LOCAL BOARD

WHAT YOU GET

The public share of training costs, such as instructor wages and materials, for training built around your job needs.

HOW MUCH

Employer share set by each board. Long Beach: at least 50% of cost, with payments up to $7,500 per person. Alameda County: 50%.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

Usually the training provider or your company under a contract with the local board. Trainee wages are not paid by the board.

WHO QUALIFIES

You commit to hire the trainees, or keep them if already employed, after training
Training is designed for your special requirements
You pay a significant part of the cost as the local board sets it
Trainees meet WIOA eligibility

Before you start: Yes. A contract with the board must be signed before training.

ETP new hire training

$28 an hour per new hire trained

OPEN, FIRST IN FIRST OUT

WHAT YOU GET

A fixed $28 an hour for each new hire who completes training and stays employed.

HOW MUCH

New hire rate $28 an hour in FY 2026-27. Standard ETP hours range from 8 to 200 per trainee.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The ETP contractor: your company or a group such as a training agency or chamber.

WHO QUALIFIES

Trainees are unemployed when training starts
They are receiving Unemployment Insurance benefits at hire, or used them up in the past 24 months
Your company pays California's Employment Training Tax
Trainees earn the ETP minimum wage after retention

Before you start: Yes. The Panel approves the proposal before training starts.

LOCAL BOARDS

Same program, different rules by board.

Long Beach Workforce Development Board

Employer pays at least 50%. Payments up to $7,500 per person unless a director approves more. Trainee wages and benefits are not allowable costs.

SOURCE: LONGBEACH.GOV

Alameda County Workforce Development Board

Employer share for customized training is 50%, with a commitment to employ trainees after successful completion.

SOURCE: ACWDB.ORG

AVOID THESE

What gets California Customized claims denied.

No commitment to hire the trainees after training.
SOURCE: ECFR.GOV
Claiming trainee wages as a training cost. Long Beach does not allow it.
SOURCE: LONGBEACH.GOV
ETP: a new hire who was not unemployed and on unemployment insurance benefits when training began.
SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV
ETP: trainee leaves before the retention period ends.
SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

California Customized questions.

How much of the cost do I pay for WIOA customized training?

Federal rules say a significant portion, set by the local board. Long Beach and Alameda County both use at least 50%. Ask your board for its rule.

SOURCE: ECFR.GOV

Does the state set one customized training rate?

No. Boards set their own share and caps. Long Beach caps payments at $7,500 per person.

SOURCE: LONGBEACH.GOV

What does ETP pay for new hires?

$28 an hour per trainee in FY 2026-27, paid after training and retention.

SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV

Is ETP funding open?

ETP listed contract funds as open on September 30, 2026. Several special grants were closed.

SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV

How we checked. Every fact on this page comes from a state agency, a local workforce board or federal regulation, read on September 30, 2026. Where a board publishes nothing, we say so instead of guessing. Programs and funding change often; confirm with the program before you commit. Written by Jason Meehl, founder of Reimbursa. Found an error? Email hello@reimbursa.com.

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