Author: Commission News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
$5 Million in State Grant Funds Now Available to Provide Local Assistance for Women’s Economic Recovery
The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls Launches a First-of-its-Kind Grant Funding Opportunity Dedicated to Women’s Pandemic Recovery Response
SACRAMENTO, CA (January 10, 2022) – The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls is accepting grant applications from local women’s commissions, local government entities for the purpose of establishing new women’s commissions, and nonprofits serving women and girls for its 2022 Women’s Recovery Response effort. Application materials are due by 4:00p.m. on February 4, 2022 and can be submitted online. All application materials and instructions are available on our website. A technical assistance Zoom call is scheduled for January 20th from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for applicants seeking help submitting their applications.
With $5 million available, the Commission will award funds ranging from $25,000 up to $250,000 maximum depending on the proposed activities for each funding category. Preference will be given to organizations serving women who have been disproportionately affected economically by the ongoing pandemic including but not limited to low-income, unemployed, or underemployed, AIAN, BIPOC, LGBTQIA, unhoused, rural, disabled, senior, and veteran populations.
The Women’s Recovery Response Grant Program represents the first time the state of California has dedicated resources, under the oversight of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, to the specific needs of women impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we grapple with the long-term consequences and persistent challenges of this crisis, it is imperative that women across the state, in all industries and localities, receive the support they need. The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls is committed to leading the work to understand the impact of COVID-19 on women and families and ensuring that their specific needs are addressed through this investment.
The goal of this opportunity is to build a more direct system of support for women in communities across the state by strengthening the existing network of local commissions, growing diverse representation of all women’s voices through the establishment of new local commissions, and providing immediate relief to women in need by increasing resources for direct service providers to support the economic recovery of women and the economic circumstances of girls.
“I look forward to working closely with the network of organizations and committed leaders across California who have always put women and girls first and who now will be able to access a greater level of state investment,” said Commission Chair Lauren Babb. “This funding will provide desperately needed resources to develop local commissions for women and girls to be heard, and offer opportunities begin to chart an equitable recovery from the devastating impacts of COVID-19 on the women and families of California.”
As the state entity tasked with assessing gender equity in multiple issue areas including health, safety, employment, education, and others, the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls is uniquely positioned to support local commissions and the direct service providers they work with to ensure that women’s needs are centered in statewide recovery efforts. The investment will insert structural support and resources into the network of local commissions while the California Commission continues to act as a statewide convener, facilitator, and oversight administrator.
“The Commission will build on this investment to ensure that response efforts are local, women led, and provide lasting opportunities to increase equity statewide” said Executive Director Holly Martinez. “I look forward to the work ahead and to the continued dialogue with state leaders on the priority needs of women and girls whose recovery is key to building a better California for ALL. This investment is only the first step in a deep dive into understanding the long-term ramifications of what the pandemic has meant for women and how we will deal with it going forward, together.”
By investing in women’s recovery, the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls is proud to lead California in taking steps toward increased gender equity and economic opportunity for all.
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About California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
For more than 50 years, the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls has identified and worked to eliminate inequities in state laws, practices, and conditions that affect California’s women and girls. Established as a state agency with 17 appointed commissioners in 1965, the Commission regularly assesses gender equity in health, safety, employment, education, and equal representation in the military, and the media. The Commission provides leadership through research, policy and program development, education, outreach and collaboration, advocacy, and strategic partnerships.
Press Contact:
Darcy Totten, CCSWG Director of Communications
916.261.6705 (cell)