Made in California Program: $500k Marketing Grant + Label Info
$500K reimbursement grant for statewide Made in California label marketing. 16-month contract. Deadline Feb 17, 2026.
Key Takeaways
$500K for CA manufacturing marketing
16-month contract period
51% CA value for label use
Certification fees waived
Grant Overview
One statewide contract to put California manufacturing on the map. If your organization knows how to run campaigns and build industry networks, this is your shot.
The California Office of the Small Business Advocate is awarding a single $500,000 reimbursement grant to lead marketing and outreach for the Made in California label. This is not a loan. It is a 16-month service contract with a hard deadline of February 17, 2026. You will need working capital upfront because the state pays back costs after you incur them. The mandate is clear: spend at least $300,000 on media buys to drive awareness of California-made products. If you are a marketing agency, manufacturing association, or nonprofit with statewide reach, the window to apply is measured in days, not weeks.
Instead of funding individual manufacturers, this opportunity funds the team responsible for driving promotion, outreach, and enrollment across the entire state.
Made in California Program – Marketing and Engagement Services
Eligibility Criteria
- For-profit California Small Business certified by DGS OR
- Manufacturing industry association OR
- Nonprofit manufacturing network OR
- For-profit entity focused on supporting manufacturers
- Demonstrated performance in marketing and outreach
- Ability to meet mandatory budget allocations
- Minimum $300000 for media buys
- Up to $120000 for consultative services
- Up to $20000 per sub-recipient for diverse manufacturer outreach
Grant Benefits
- $500000
- Other Benefit: 16-month contract period (March 15 2026 – June 30 2027)
- Other Benefit: Reimbursement-based funding
- Other Benefit: Single award expected
This reimbursement-based opportunity focuses on driving label adoption among manufacturers who meet the 51 percent rule. It is not direct funding for individual businesses but a service contract to amplify California’s manufacturing sector. Strong applicants often include marketing firms with public experience or associations tied to makers. Check the details below to see if your capabilities align and how to prepare a solid proposal quickly.
Are You Eligible For Made In California Grant Program?
Not sure if your organization qualifies? The eligibility checker below walks you through the core requirements without the bureaucratic language. It covers your entity type, marketing experience, and ability to handle the reimbursement structure. You will get a clear yes, no, or needs-work answer with specific next steps.
If the tool shows you are eligible, start your application immediately. The California Grants Portal can have technical issues and password resets kill more applications than bad ideas. If you get a partial match, consider partnering with a manufacturing association or regional outreach organization to strengthen your proposal. If you are uncertain about DGS certification or budget allocation rules, we can pull the exact RFP language and clarify before you invest time.
Who Typically Wins Contracts Like This
Strong applicants usually combine marketing execution experience with established manufacturing relationships. This includes industry associations, nonprofit manufacturing networks, public sector marketing contractors, and agencies with proven statewide outreach delivery.
Common successful applicant profiles
- Marketing agencies with government or statewide campaign experience
- Manufacturing associations with existing member networks
- Nonprofit economic development organizations
- Consortium teams combining marketing and manufacturing expertise
What Made In California Grant Actually Funds
There are two parts to the Made in California Program and most people confuse them. The first part is the labeling program itself. That allows manufacturers to use an official state badge on products that are at least 51% substantially made in California. That program is free for manufacturers right now because fees are waived.
This RFP is different. It funds the marketing of that label. CalOSBA needs one contractor to run awareness campaigns, engage manufacturers, and drive adoption of the certification. Your job is to make sure California manufacturers know this label exists and want to use it. The $500,000 is reimbursement-based, meaning you spend first and invoice later. The contract runs from March 15, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
This RFP requires a mandatory $300,000 minimum for direct media buys. Proposals that do not meet this threshold will be rejected. This is non-negotiable.
Who Should Apply?
This grant is narrow by design. CalOSBA wants organizations that already understand manufacturing and already know how to run campaigns at scale. You do not need to be the biggest agency in Los Angeles. You do need to be a California Small Business certified by the Department of General Services or a manufacturing association with deep ties to the industry.
Eligible entity types break into four buckets:
- Certified California Small Businesses in marketing, advertising, or related fields
- Manufacturing industry associations with existing member networks
- Nonprofit manufacturing networks with outreach capacity
- For-profit entities specifically focused on manufacturer support services
If you are a smaller shop, do not count yourself out. The budget allows for sub-recipients. You could pitch as a specialty contractor handling outreach to diverse or underserved manufacturers, with up to $20,000 allocated per sub-recipient partner.
If you are a marketing agency without manufacturing experience, partner with an industry association now. You have days to form that relationship and draft a competitive proposal.
Budget Structure: Where Every Dollar Must Go
CalOSBA has already decided how this $500,000 gets allocated. You cannot deviate from these buckets. Your proposal must show exactly how you will spend within these guardrails.
The reimbursement structure matters. You spend first, then submit for repayment. This requires healthy cash flow. If your agency operates on thin margins, plan for the lag between outlay and repayment.
Application Requirements and Submission Tips
The full RFP lives on the California Grants Portal. You need an account to download the complete application package. Do not wait until February 16 to create that account. Portal issues and verification delays have killed more applications than bad ideas.
Create portal account immediately Download full RFP and all attachments Verify DGS Small Business certification status if for-profit Identify sub-recipient partners if applicable Draft budget using mandatory allocations Submit before 5:00 PM Pacific on February 17
Required documents include:
- Organization overview and relevant marketing experience
- Detailed 16-month work plan with milestones and KPIs
- Budget narrative justifying each line item against mandatory allocations
- Proof of California Small Business certification if applicable
- Letters of intent from any proposed sub-recipients
- Sample media plan or past campaign results
Q: Is there a matching funds requirement?
A: No. This grant does not require cost sharing. However, you must demonstrate capacity to execute the full scope before reimbursement arrives.
Q: Can a manufacturer apply for this grant?
A: Generally no. This funds marketing services, not manufacturing operations. Unless your business also operates as a marketing agency or leads a consortium to promote the industry, you are not the target for this funding. You are the target for the separate label certification program at madeincalifornia.ca.gov.
Project Timeline and What Winning Looks Like?
The contract runs March 15, 2026 through June 30, 2027. That is 16 months. CalOSBA expects to announce the awardee by March 1, 2026, giving you two weeks to ramp up before kickoff.
Success metrics will likely include number of manufacturers enrolled in the labeling program, media impressions and engagement rates, diversity of manufacturer outreach across geography and company size, and quality of campaign reporting.
Previous cycle award recipients are not publicly listed. If you cannot find prior winners, study successful state-level manufacturing promotions in other states for benchmarks.
For Manufacturers: The Certification Opportunity
If you are here because you make products, the $500,000 grant is likely not for you (unless you are a marketing firm). However, the program itself offers immense value. The “Made in California” label is a state-backed certification that proves your product is substantially made here. It builds trust with buyers who prioritize local quality and sustainability.
Currently, licensing fees are waived. In previous years, this program cost manufacturers around $2,000 and required third-party audits. Now, it operates on a self-attestation model with no application fee. You can apply today and secure a two-year license at no cost.
The “51% Rule” Explained
To qualify for the label, your product must be “substantially made” in California. The legal definition is precise: at least 51% of the product’s wholesale value must be added through manufacturing, assembly, or production within the state.
- Wholesale Value Calculation: (Labor Costs + Raw Materials + Production Overhead) / Total Wholesale Price.
- What Counts: Manufacturing labor, California-sourced materials, facility overhead (rent, utilities attributable to production).
- What Doesn’t Count: Simply packaging a finished product imported from elsewhere. Design work without physical production.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the $300,000 media buy negotiable?
A: No. The RFP explicitly requires this minimum allocation. Proposals failing to meet it will be rejected.
Q: What does substantially made in California mean?
A: It means at least 51% of a product’s wholesale value was added through manufacture, assembly, fabrication, or production in California. Packaging alone does not count.
Q: How does reimbursement funding work?
A: You incur eligible costs first, then submit documentation for repayment. You need working capital to cover the gap between spending and reimbursement.
Q: What is the deadline?
A: February 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. Late submissions are not accepted.
Q: Who is the ideal applicant?
A: Organizations that combine marketing execution experience with established manufacturing relationships: industry associations, nonprofit manufacturing networks, public sector marketing contractors, or agencies with proven statewide outreach.
Q: Can I partner with other organizations?
A: Yes. You can designate sub-recipients for diverse manufacturer outreach, with up to $20,000 per partner. Strong partnerships increase competitiveness.
Key Terms You Need to Know
- CalOSBA: California Office of the Small Business Advocate, the agency administering this grant within GO-Biz.
- GO-Biz: Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, the parent agency overseeing California’s economic development strategy.
- DGS Small Business Certification: Formal certification from the California Department of General Services proving your business meets small business size standards. Required for for-profit applicants.
- Substantially Made in California: The legal threshold for using the label. At least 51% of wholesale value must be added through California-based production activities.
- Wholesale Value: Total production cost including labor, raw materials, and overhead. This is the baseline for calculating the 51% California content requirement.
- Self-Attestation: The verification method for the labeling program. Manufacturers certify their own compliance without third-party audits.
- Reimbursement Funding: Payment structure where you incur costs first, then submit for repayment. Requires working capital.
- Media Buys: Purchased advertising space across channels like digital display, social media, print, radio, or outdoor. This grant mandates at least $300,000 here.
- Consultative Services: Strategic advisory work including campaign planning, creative direction, and performance analysis. Capped at $120,000.
- Sub-Recipient: Partner organization that receives a portion of the grant to perform specific outreach tasks. Up to $20,000 per partner for diverse manufacturer engagement.
- Made in California Label: Official certification mark manufacturers can display on products and marketing materials. Your job is to promote awareness and adoption.
- California Grants Portal: The state’s centralized system for grant applications. All submissions must go through this portal.
- Performance Period: The contract timeframe from March 15, 2026 through June 30, 2027 when deliverables must be completed.
- Allowable Costs: Expenses approved for reimbursement under contract rules. Must align with the four budget categories.
- KPI: Key performance indicator. Common metrics include manufacturers engaged, label adoption rate, and consumer impressions.
- MOU: Memorandum of understanding with partners demonstrating regional or sector outreach capacity.
Similar Grants and Alternative Funding
If you miss this deadline or do not qualify, California offers other manufacturing and small business support programs. Some provide direct technical assistance rather than marketing funding. Others focus on workforce development or clean technology upgrades.
Manufacturers seeking direct funding should explore complementary programs rather than this marketing contract. Check our related grants section for current opportunities in manufacturing support, small business marketing, and California state funding.
Need Help With Your Application?
This RFP closes soon. The budget structure is rigid. The eligibility rules have no wiggle room. If you are uncertain about your DGS certification status, your partnership strategy, or your budget narrative, we can review your materials and identify gaps before you submit.
We guide on RFP interpretation, budget setup, and narrative strength. If rules confuse, we clarify.
Book Free Consultation | Get Proposal Help
Our team knows California state grants. We understand where applications get tripped up and what reviewers actually look for. Book a free consultation and we will tell you honestly if this is worth your time or if you should wait for the next cycle.
About the Author
Imran runs Grantaura to cut through the noise of government funding. He built this database because small business owners and nonprofit leaders were drowning in outdated information and vague eligibility language. When he is not digging through RFPs, he is testing new tools to make grant discovery faster and less painful. More about Imran | Book a free consultation
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