Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED) Grant 2.0

Purpose

The purpose of the SEED Initiative is to support the entrepreneurship of immigrants and limited English proficient (LEP) individuals who face significant employment barriers, which will also increase the state’s economic diversity and help spur business innovation.

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 to be administered by the California Workforce Development Board (“Board”) within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency (“Agency”). (See California Unemployment Insurance Code, sections 14106 to 14110.) The Employment Training Panel (“ETP”), also within the Agency, is administering SEED on behalf of the Board. The SEED Initiative will provide micro-grants, entrepreneurial training, and technical assistance to SEED target populations to support them in starting or maintaining a small business in California aimed at addressing a social problem or meeting a community need. 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.