DEMAND SIDE EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE (DSEI)

The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) received a one-time appropriation of $10 million to fund strategic initiatives to increase the employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. With this funding, DOR has created the Demand Side Employment Initiative (DSEI), an employer incentive program to support businesses to expand or start hiring people with disabilities.

The DSEI consists of four key elements:

• EmployABILITY Business Grant
  Apply for funding ranging from $20,000 to $200,000

• Targeted Marketing Campaign
  EmployABILITY grant recipients will be highlighted in a customized media and marketing campaign

• Earn and Learn Opportunities
  Funding available to establish a training program that leads Californians with disabilities to employment

• Human Resources Training and Collateral
  California specific certificate program for HR professionals for building inclusive workspaces

---

---

EmployABILITY Business Grant

• Small and medium-sized businesses can apply for a grant ranging from $20,000 to $200,000, with the possibility of additional funding in the future, to support hiring and training individuals with disabilities.

• These grants will allow businesses to introduce and expand disability-inclusive hiring practices.

• Businesses may use the grants for equipment, new hire costs, training, consulting services, physical location improvements, or other needs related to the hiring and retention of employees with disabilities.

• Free technical assistance is available to businesses for implementation and support of employing individuals with disabilities. We will provide our expertise to support your business. Technical assistance will be tailored to custom fit your business needs and comes at no cost to you.

HOW TO APPLY: EmployABILITY Business Grant

Apply here: https://dor.ca.gov/Home/ContractGrantSolicitations

Review the funding application and reach out to DSEI@dor.ca.gov with any questions. Fill out the attachments A-F for the funding application titled "RFI DSEI-22-01 Demand Side Employment Initiative". For more information go to the EmployABILITY website.

Please email responses to: Contractsinfo@dor.ca.gov with the following subject line: RFI #DSEI-22-01 Response Package

The EmployABILITY Business Grant Panel will evaluate each application. The panel will use the following factors in their evaluation of each case:

• Availability of grant funding
• Impact of hiring individuals with disabilities