Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development 3 (SEED 3)

Purpose

SEED supports the entrepreneurship of immigrants and limited English proficient (LEP) individuals who face significant employment barriers. The SEED Initiative will provide micro-grants, entrepreneurial training, and technical assistance to support them in starting or maintaining a small business in California aimed at addressing a social problem or meeting a community need.

Description

In June 2020, the California Legislature approved Assembly Bill 82 (Chapter 14, Stats. 2020), which established the Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED) Initiative (See California Unemployment Insurance Code, sections 14106 to 14110). The Employment Training Panel (ETP), within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency (Agency), is administering this round of SEED funding on behalf of the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). SEED target populations are individuals who face significant barriers to employment, specifically: (1) individuals with limited English proficiency, regardless of immigration or citizenship status; or (2) individuals who are neither U.S. citizens nor lawful permanent residents. This includes individuals who may not be lawfully present in the United States, and individuals who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). In addition, SEED is open to all individuals in the target populations, including other immigrants, refugees and asylees, and United States citizens.