Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship (ERiCA) Grant
The Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship (ERiCA) Grant is transformative funding designed to increase equitable access to building and construction career pathways for women, non-binary individuals, and underserved populations in California. Administered by the California Department of Industrial Relations Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS), the ERiCA Grant is dedicated funding aimed at dismantling barriers that disproportionately prevent women from entering and thriving in the construction industry.
DAS awarded $25 million during the first round of the ERICA grant (PY 2023-2025) to improve access to training and employment opportunities for underserved populations in construction trades throughout the state, by providing supportive resources for childcare along with outreach to and community building among underserved populations. The second round of the ERiCA grant (PY 2025-2027)will build upon the successes of its first-round efforts, strengthening its commitment to building a construction workforce that mirrors California’s diversity.
View the full list of first round ERICA grant awardees (PY 2023-2025) in the Awardees section below.
Timeline
Applications open: Early 2025 (exact date TBD)
Applications close: Mid-February (exact date TBD)
The Round 2 (PY 2025-2027) Solicitation for proposals has not yet been released, but when it is, this section will be updated with resources to submit a proposal.
Funding Details
Type of funding: Grant
Estimated total funding: $13,000,000 (July 2025 - June 2027)
Award amount:
Recruitment - $100,000 - $500,000
- This category of funding is designed to bolster outreach to women, non-binary, and underserved populations interested in careers in the building/construction industry.
Childcare - $200,000 - $1,500,000
- Pre-apprenticeship: $5,000 per eligible apprentice in a registered pre-apprenticeship program, or
- Apprenticeship: $10,000 per eligible apprentice in a registered apprenticeship program
- Proposals under this category of funding must identify how many eligible participants the grant will support. Applicants for childcare funding MUST also apply for Recruitment funding and provide recruitment/outreach services as outlined in the Recruitment category.
Worksite Culture - $100,000 - $500,000
- This is a new category of funding focused on improving the worksite culture surrounding construction trades apprenticeships. The focus is both on mentoring, community building and mental health supports for apprentices, along with training for both apprentices and also journey workers, contractors and managers on a worksite to improve the culture of the worksite. Trainings and support should focus on mental health, anti-harassment and antidiscrimination training.
Eligible applicants:
- All applicants must either be a DAS Registered Apprenticeship or Pre-Apprenticeship program or be in collaboration with one, validated with letters of support.
- Applicants must either operated at least two pre-apprentice or apprentice cohorts focusing on equity and inclusion of underserved populations over the past four years;
- or - marketed, recruited, or advocated for women in state-registered construction pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs.
- Entities that received the first round of ERiCA Funding for any category is only eligible for this round of ERiCA Funding if they have passed the annual review as of Dec 31, 2024.
- Eligible Entity types include:
- Non-profits
- Community-based Organizations
- Local Education Agencies
- Workforce Boards
- Unions
- State Registered construction apprenticeship & pre-apprenticeship program sponsors
Sector: Building and Construction
Target population: The objective of this grant is to increase equitable access to building and construction career pathways for women, non-binary individuals, and underserved populations in California.
Required partners: DAS Registered Pre-Apprenticeship Programs or DAS Registered Apprenticeship Programs
Contact: DASGrantUnit@dir.ca.gov
Awardees
Build Your Career: Explore Apprenticeship Opportunities for Women in Construction
California is committed to leading in the advancement of apprenticeship opportunities that resonate with today’s demands, ensuring our programs are accessible to all, and preparing apprentices for the top-paying jobs of tomorrow. Exploring ERiCA grantee web pages is a fantastic way to find comprehensive information about apprenticeship programs designed to empower women to enter and thrive in construction careers. Start your career exploration in the construction trades today!
| Project Name | Lead Agency | Grant Category | Funding Award | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGC Construction Education Foundation | Outreach and Community Building | $ 500,000 | ||
| Inclusion in Construction Includes Childcare (ICIC) | California Labor Federation | Supportive Resources for Childcare | $ 2,000,000 | |
| Supportive Services for Apprenticeship Coordinators (SSAC) | California Labor Federation | Outreach and Community Building | $ 700,000 | |
| CTTFNC Childcare | Carpenters Training Trust Fund for Northern California | Supportive Resources for Childcare | $ 2,000,000 | |
| Enhancing Outreach and Support for Women in Apprenticeships | Cerritos Community College | Outreach and Community Building | $ 300,000 | |
| Increasing Opportunity for Women in the Building Trades | Cerritos Community College | Supportive Resources for Childcare | $ 600,000 | |
| ERiCA: East Bay Regional Building Trades Outreach and Community Building | Construction Trades Workforce Initiative | Outreach and Community Building | $ 500,000 | |
| ERiCA: East Bay Regional Building Trades Supportive Resources for Childcare | Construction Trades Workforce Initiative | Supportive Resources for Childcare | $ 2,100,000 | |
| ValleyBuild: ERiCA Supportive Resources for Childcare | Supportive Resources for Childcare | $ 1,400,000 | ||
| ValleyBuild: ERiCA Outreach & Community Building | Outreach and Community Building | $ 400,000 | ||
| LA/OC - MC3 | LA/OC BTC - Apprenticeship Readiness Fund | Outreach and Community Building | $ 300,000 | |
| LA/OC - MC3 | LA/OC BTC - Apprenticeship Readiness Fund | Supportive Resources for Childcare | $ 1,500,000 | |
| Build the Bay | Construction Careers for Women and Other Underserved Communities | Mission Hiring Hall | Supportive Resources for Childcare | $ 1,000,000 | |
| NB TIP (North Bay Trades Introduction Program) | NB BCTC - NB TIP | Supportive Resources for Childcare | $ 140,000 | |
| Community Building in Electrical Trade | NECA/IBEW INLAND TRAINING FUND | Outreach and Community Building | $ 700,000 | |
| Childcare Stipends for Electrical Pre-Apprentices and Apprentices | NECA/IBEW INLAND TRAINING FUND | Supportive Resources for Childcare | $ 1,400,000 | |
| Paving the Way for Women in Skilled Trades-Childcare | Paving The Way Foundation | Supportive Resources for Childcare | $ 300,000 | |
| Construction Bound | People Working Together | Outreach and Community Building | $ 400,000 | |
| The Opportunity of All Program | San Diego Electrical Training Trust | Outreach and Community Building | $ 500,000 | |
| ARC ACCESS | San Diego Workforce Partnership | Outreach and Community Building | $ 700,000 | |
| ARC ACCESS | San Diego Workforce Partnership | Supportive Resources for Childcare | $ 2,000,000 | |
| Rocking Construction Bridges to Careers (RCBC) | State Building and Construction Trades Council of California (SBCTC) | Outreach and Community Building | $ 1,000,000 | |
| Childcare Leading to Inclusion in Construction (CLIC) | State Building and Construction Trades Council of California (SBCTC) | Supportive Resources for Childcare | $ 2,000,000 | |
| California Construction Careers for Women (C3W) | Tradeswomen inc. | Outreach and Community Building | $ 1,600,000 | |
| WestCal Academy Building and Construction Trades Outreach Program | WestCal Academy | Outreach and Community Building | $ 250,000 | |
| Hard Hat Women's Equity Education Initiative | Women In Non Traditional Employment Roles | Outreach and Community Building | $ 500,000 | |
| Apprenticeship Readiness Partnership | Working Partnerships USA | Supportive Resources for Childcare | $ 210,000 |
December 2024