High Road Construction Careers 2026
High Road Construction Careers 2026 supports workers facing employment barriers through construction training and joint-apprenticeship access to meet California infrastructure needs and expand opportunity.
Funder: California Workforce Development Board
Due Dates: October 22, 2026 (RFA release and application opens) | October 27, 2026 (Pre-recorded webinar) | November 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. PST (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $19 million available; 13 awards planned; grant term April 1, 2027–May 31, 2029
Summary: Supports construction workforce training and joint-apprenticeship access to meet infrastructure hiring needs and expand economic opportunity in California.
Key Information: Round Two funding is available only to existing High Road Construction Careers regions.
Description
The California Workforce Development Board (CWDB), in partnership with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), offers High Road Construction Careers 2026 to train workers for public infrastructure and construction projects. Part of the California Jobs First Initiative, Round Two is a competitive funding opportunity during the 2026–27 state fiscal year that awards the remaining HRCC 2026 funds to support program goals and regional labor market needs.
The program prioritizes access to joint-apprenticeship programs for people who have traditionally faced barriers to employment in construction trades, including women, veterans, and justice-involved individuals. Its broader goals are to increase employment, boost incomes, and drive economic activity in communities that need it most.
