California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP)

The California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP) empowers community-based organizations (CBOs) to be trusted messengers for the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), delivering crucial information on workers’ rights and safety measures to workers, employers, and their communities. At this time, CWOP is in a two-year cycle known as "CWOP 5.0/6.0." 5.0 refers to the fifth year of the project, covering approximately July 2025 – June 2026, and 6.0 refers to the sixth year of the project, covering approximately July 2026 – June 2027, with some exceptions.

Strategic Components of CWOP 5.0/6.0:

  1. Comprehensive Education on Workplace Protections: Provide a wide range of information on workplace protections to improve safety and health conditions for workers, combat wage theft and retaliation, and inform workers of their rights to benefits and medical care for work-related illnesses and injuries.
  2. Language and Accessibility: Maintain a strong commitment to diversity and ensure outreach materials are accessible in multiple languages, addressing the needs of California’s diverse workforce.
  3. Engagement and Outreach: Use interactive activities to engage workers and employers in meaningful discussions about safety practices, worker rights, and available resources regardless of immigration status. This includes direct outreach, workshops, and seminars.
  4. Partnership and Collaboration: Strengthen partnerships with CBOs, labor and occupational health centers, and agricultural associations to expand the reach and effectiveness of the program.
  5. Rural Strategic Engagement (RSE): Dedicate targeted outreach and legal resources to improve access to in-person services in under resourced rural areas, particularly for vulnerable workers such as farmworkers.

Read the 2023-24 CWOP Campaign Report with more details and pictures of CWOP outreach events.

CWOP Supplemental Funding Request for Applications (RFA)

Supplemental funds will support CWOP 6.0 and be available both for current grantees wishing to expand their deliverables and for new grantees who can address identified gaps and emerging needs as described in the Request for Application (RFA).

The DIR will receive applications from May 12, 2026, to June 12, 2026. Read full RFA details.

Apply using the CORD portal by June 12, 2026, at 5 pm PT.

Register for a CORD Account

Applicants must register for a California Outreach Rapid Deployment (CORD) platform account to apply online.

If you already have an account, sign in to access the CWOP 6.0 application under My Network Applications. Only business and organizational email addresses should be used to create a new CORD account.

Applicants are required to register for a CORD account at least a week prior to avoid access issues.

Instructions to Register for a CORD Account

  1. Email support@cordconnect.org with the subject line: CORD Account Request
  2. Use your business or organization email address to make this request
  3. You will receive an email confirming your registration within 24-48 hours
  4. Go to www.cordconnect.org and enter the email you requested the account for
  5. A code will be sent to your email address; use this code to login

Note: If an account under that email already exists, you will be asked to log in using the existing account.

Instructions to Apply (after account is created)

  1. Go to www.cordconnect.org and enter your business or organization email
  2. A code will be sent to your email address; use this code to login
  3. Once logged in, go to Applications and select My Network Applications
  4. From My Network Applications, click on Start New Application
  5. Select CWOP 6.0 and click continue
  6. Start working on the application

Timeline

Action Dates Phases and Links
March 23, 2026 Draft RFA Published
March 23, 2026, to April 20, 2026 Public Comment Period via Email
English
April 17, 2026 RFA Draft Informational Session
English
May 12, 2026 Application opens
May 18, 2026, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Informational Webinar- Session 1
June 1, 2026, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Informational Webinar-Session 2
June 12, 2026, 5 pm PT Application closes
June to July 2026 Review of applications and scoring
August 2026 Notice of Grant Awards issued
August to September 2026 Grant agreements executed

Current CWOP 5.0 Grant Recipients

After a competitive process that included a total of 121 applicants, the Department of Industrial Relations released $28 million to 89 organizations that applied for the California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP) PY 25-26.

May 2026