New Grant Supports Education, Career Training for Californians Impacted by COVID-19
Credit: Al Seib / Contributor / Los Angeles Times / Getty Images- Applicants must have lost their job during the pandemic and have not been able to find an equivalent one since.
- Qualified education or training programs are available at California community colleges and in the California State University and University of California systems.
- The program is outside the traditional student financial aid system and uses a separate standalone application.
Californians who lost their job during the pandemic and are pursuing higher education are eligible for a $2,500 grant, thanks to a program launched last month by the California Student Aid Commission.
The Golden State Education and Training Grant Program is designed to help those who are unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and want to “reskill, upskill, and access educational programs to get back into the workforce.”
“[The program] is a win-win proposition for students and for the regional and State economy,” said Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Dr. Francisco C. Rodriguez in a press release. “This transformational investment will support displaced workers to reenter the workforce, preparing workers and students for today’s and tomorrow’s in-demand jobs that lead to living wage employment.”
According to the California Student Aid Commission, a qualified applicant for the one-time grant allowance is someone who:
- Lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Has not been able to find an equivalent job since then that provides an average monthly wage that is equal to or greater than the average monthly wage received from their employment prior to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Was not enrolled in an education or training program at the time of their job loss
- Meets the income and asset requirements associated with Cal Grant A eligibility
- Is enrolled in a qualified education or training program, including at any California community college, California State University, or the University of California
Applications are submitted online through the Golden State Education and Training Grant Program website. If qualified, grants will be paid to the educational institution or training provider where the awardee is enrolled.