California Workforce Development Board details $8 million HRCC 2026 Round One bridge funding and expedited application timeline

The California Workforce Development Board launched a virtual kickoff for the HRCC 2026 Round One request for applications, presenting an $8 million round of bridge funding intended to maintain continuity from the earlier HRCC RWF program and to bridge to a larger competitive Round Two expected later this summer.

Mike Rosetta, branch manager for the Grant Development, Selections and Agreements Unit, said the Round One awards are predetermined by HRCC region and that the board is aiming to get funding into contracts quickly to avoid gaps after RWF ended. "Round one is intended to serve as a bridge from HRCC RWF to round two," Rosetta said. He announced the application deadline: "The deadline for the round one applications is May 6th at 5:00 p.m."

Rosetta and other CWDB presenters described the funding source as SB 150 and an interagency agreement between the CWDB and Caltrans to align workforce development through HRCC with state and federal infrastructure investments. They said Round Two will be a larger competitive solicitation, projected at about $19 million and likely to be released later in the summer.

Julisa Silva, an analyst on the Grants Development and Solicitations team, walked applicants through the CalGrants application process and required exhibits. Applicants must upload a completed participant plan (an Excel spreadsheet) and an STD 204 (payee data record) for payment processing; missing required uploads will make an application incomplete. Silva emphasized that the application cover page must match the region's allocated amount listed on page two of the RFA and warned that the system will block submission if budget totals or matches do not align.

Cara Meyer, supervisor of the Grant Agreements team, said CWDB now processes grant agreements in-house to shorten execution timelines and that organizations must ensure the correct authorized signatory and email on their application. "There is language included in the terms and conditions that organizations will have 15 business days to return the signed agreement," Meyer said, but she cautioned that delays will likely push program start and invoicing dates later; CWDB is targeting a June 10 start and warned that late agreement return could push invoicing to August.

CWDB staff outlined program expectations: Round One grantees should maintain service-delivery models and participant pipelines similar to their HRCC RWF programs, offer supportive services and demonstrate measurable outcomes tied to employment, apprenticeship entry and career progression. Pre-apprenticeship training (including MC3 or equivalent) and state-approved apprenticeship pipelines were cited as program priorities.

Staff encouraged applicants to begin their CalGrants applications immediately because the cycle is expedited, reminded applicants to save work frequently in the system, and announced virtual office hours on April 30 (1:30 p.m.) and other resources on the HRCC grant web page. Questions and requests for draft agreement templates should be directed to the solicitations inbox at solicitations@cwdb.ca.gov.

The webinar recording will be posted to CWDB's YouTube channel and linked on the HRCC 2026 grant web page.

The next formal step for applicants is to submit a completed CalGrants application by May 6 at 5:00 p.m.; CWDB expects to notify awardees shortly after that deadline and to process exhibit modifications and agreements rapidly to meet the June 10 program start target.