CONTACT:
Kelsey Ryan, Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications, Redefine Alliance
kryan@redefinealliance.org | (415) 510-6021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sacramento, CA (April 10, 2026) — This spring, Caltrans has announced more than $2 million in awards to projects involving employment social enterprises (ESEs) as part of a broader $25 million investment in 90 local initiatives aimed at reducing litter, removing graffiti, and improving public spaces across California. Funding is provided through the Community Cleanup and Employment Pathways (CCEP) grant program under Clean California, a signature initiative of Governor Gavin Newsom.
CCEP grants support litter abatement and beautification on locally owned public rights‑of‑way — and through this funding award, these grants will also strengthen California’s thriving network of ESEs. ESEs are revenue-generating businesses that provide jobs and career pathways for people overcoming significant barriers to employment, like homelessness or justice system involvement. Through paid transitional jobs, practical support (like housing, transportation, and childcare), and training, these businesses help individuals access long‑term economic stability.
CCEP seeks to expand pathways to employment by partnering with workforce development organizations and ESEs that train and support individuals facing significant barriers to work. Redefine Alliance, a nonprofit funder that backs ESEs, helped identify and support ESEs with current Caltrans contracts to partner with their local governments to apply to this program. This year, all $25 million in CCEP funding will directly benefit underserved communities.
“These grants do more than fund cleanups, they’re investments in people and provide hope and opportunity,” said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy. “By partnering with local agencies and workforce development organizations, we’re investing in our under-resourced communities by creating jobs, restoring pride, and proving that when we care for our neighborhoods, we care for each other.”
CCEP Projects involving ESEs include:
- Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) — four projects in partnership with:
- Marin County Probation Department
- City of Los Angeles Council District 1 (Chinatown)
- City of Los Angeles Council District 1 (Pico Union)
- Riverside County Regional Park and Open‑Space District
- Conservation Corps of Long Beach — four projects in partnership with:
- City of South Gate
- Watershed Conservation Authority (Los Angeles)
- SR 1 & Lower L.A. River Cleanup
- I-105/SR-91 & Lower L.A. River Cleanup
- Lower L.A. River, East Slauson Ave-Rio Hondo Confluence Cleanup
- Chrysalis — one project in partnership with the San Bernardino Workforce Development Department
California is home to a thriving network of roughly 300 employment social enterprises, and Governor Newsom’s administration has been active in support of this network of ESEs. The California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise (CA RISE), another successful state initiative supporting ESEs, has been renewed for a second cohort in 2026. Redefine Alliance also serves as program manager of CA RISE.
A complete list of CCEP grant recipients can be found here.
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ABOUT REDEFINE ALLIANCE
Redefine Alliance invests in employment social enterprises (ESEs) — businesses that provide jobs, training, and support to people breaking through barriers to employment. Redefine partners with these businesses and the entrepreneurs who lead them — providing capital, capacity, and community — to amplify their transformative impact. Since 1997, Redefine Alliance has invested in 363 ESEs in 42 states and DC. Collectively, these partnerships have helped 157,100 people enter the workforce and generated more than $3.1 billion in revenue that is reinvested in employee success — creating a ripple effect that strengthens families and communities and helps build an economy that works. For everyone. For more information, visit redefinealliance.org.
