Panel approves two paid-family-leave outreach grants to chambers serving small businesses

The Employment Training Panel on a roll-call vote approved two Paid Family Leave (PFL) grant awards to organizations the panel said can reach small employers affected by PFL use. Chris Hoover, the manager presenting the packet, said the grants are aimed at chambers, community colleges and trade organizations that already work with California small businesses.

"Grants funds will be available for entities like chambers of commerce, community colleges, and professional trade organizations who are well positioned to outreach and who demonstrate a strong preexisting relationship with California small businesses," Hoover said. He identified the recommended awardees as the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce (a previous PFL grantee) and the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce (a new-region awardee for the Santa Barbara County area).

Hoover noted the ETP’s CaliGrants portal has been launched and that a contractor is assembling evaluations and success stories from earlier PFL rounds. Panel members asked staff to bring empirical outcomes and success stories in a future presentation so the panel can better understand program impact.

After asking for public comment (none was offered), the panel approved the two packets by roll call; the chair announced the motion was adopted.