CA · State Grant

California State Training Grants for Employers

California's main state training money is the Employment Training Panel (ETP), paid for by a tax on employers. It pays a fixed hourly rate per trainee, $24 to $28 an hour in fiscal 2026-27, after training and retention. Contract funds were open on September 30, 2026, while all of ETP's special grants were closed. WIOA youth work experience does not pay you a grant; the board pays the youth's wages.

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

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HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

1
Check that ETP contract funds are open
2
Get Panel approval before any training
3
Train the workers
4
Get paid after training and retention

2 VERIFIED PROGRAMS

Where the California money comes from.

Run by Employment Training Panel (ETP). Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

ETP contract funds

$24 to $28 per training hour, per trainee

OPEN, FIRST IN FIRST OUT

WHAT YOU GET

A flat hourly rate per trainee who completes training and stays employed.

HOW MUCH

FY 2026-27: retraining $24 to $28 an hour depending on employer type; new hires $28; apprentices $22. Cap $650,000 per single employer.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The contractor: your company on a single-employer contract, or a multiple employer contractor such as a training agency or chamber.

WHO QUALIFIES

Your company pays California's Employment Training Tax
Trainees work full time and have 90 days or more with you (retraining)
Retraining generally needs out-of-state competition; manufacturers qualify automatically
Trainees earn at least the ETP minimum wage after retention

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

WIOA Youth work experience (including summer jobs)

Board pays the youth's wages, not you

THROUGH YOUR LOCAL BOARD

WHAT YOU GET

In-kind help: a paid young worker at no wage cost to you.

HOW MUCH

No set amount. Boards decide the wage, hours and length. Each board must spend at least 20% of its youth funds on work experience.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The youth participant. The board pays the wages; you host the work site.

WHO QUALIFIES

You are a public, private for-profit or nonprofit work site
Youth are WIOA-eligible and referred by the board
The work experience includes learning tied to the job

Before you start: Yes. The board sets up a work site agreement.

AVOID THESE

What gets California State Grant claims denied.

ETP: starting training before the Panel approves.
SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV
ETP: a trainee who leaves before the retention period ends earns nothing.
SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV
ETP: retraining jobs with no out-of-state competition (unless you are a manufacturer or qualify under special rules).
SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV
ETP: applying to a closed special grant, such as the Apprenticeship Program, Agriculture Initiative or SEED 3.
SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

California State Grant questions.

Is ETP open right now?

Contract funds were open on September 30, 2026. The Apprenticeship Program, Agriculture Initiative, EVITP 2.0, SEED 3, Paid Family Leave Small Business 4 and other grants were closed.

SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV

Who gets the ETP money?

The contractor. That can be your company or a group that trains for several employers. ETP is a funding agency, not a training agency.

SOURCE: DIR.CA.GOV

Can a small business apply?

Yes. Businesses with 100 or fewer California employees and no more than 250 worldwide can contract directly, with 8 to 200 training hours.

SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV

Does WIOA youth work experience pay employers?

No. Youth funds pay the participant's wages and related benefits. You get a paid worker, not a grant.

SOURCE: EDD.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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