California Apprenticeship Council (CAC) Training Funds
Contractors who are awarded public works contracts must make training fund contributions in the amount established in the prevailing wage rate publication for journeypersons and apprentices per California Labor Code §1777.5. This nominal fee contributes to the assurance that new apprentices coming into the craft will be guaranteed the highest level of training and as skilled craftsmen retire, the trade will survive.
Each fiscal year, the California Apprenticeship Council solicits grant applications for distribution of the training fund contributions, less expenses, to approved multi-employer apprenticeship programs who serve the same craft or trade and geographical area as the training contributions made. These grants will be distributed in accordance with California Labor Code §1777.5, subdivision (m).
Programs applying for this grant must keep adequate records, such as invoices, receipts, canceled checks, etc., documenting the expenditure of grant funds and to make all records available to the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) to verify that grant funds were used solely for training apprentices.
Timeline
Applications open: August 2025
Applications close: TBA
Applications for training fund grants open annually.
Funding Details
Type of funding: Formula
Estimated total funding: $20 million
Award amount: Eligible apprenticeship programs will receive a formal notification of the grant funds they have been allocated for the FY 2025-2026 cycle. This notification will include a detailed breakdown of grant amounts by occupation, along with instructions to apply for the program’s allocated funds.
Resources
Contact: Trainingfundgrants@dir.ca.gov
More Information
Eligible entities: DAS registered Multi-employer Programs in the Building & Construction Trades
Link to apply:
2025 Grant Announcement and Instructions:
- Coming soon
Sector: Building & Construction
Target population: Distribute training contributions by making grants to approved apprenticeship programs for the purpose of training apprentices.
Required partners: N/A
July 2025