Over $7 Million Awarded in State Apprenticeship Expansion, Equity and Innovation Grants
Sacramento—The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) are pleased to announce the awardees of nearly $7.3 million in funds to expand apprenticeships in California to underserved communities, including women, people of color, justice-involved persons, people with disabilities, veterans and youth.
“We are excited to support these programs and help provide a boost to workers looking for opportunities to develop new skills,” said DIR Director Katie S. Hagen.
The awardees include the following:
| Applicants | Occupations | Region | Amount | Number of Apprentices Funded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland Empire Designing Equitable Apprenticeships (IEDEA) | IT & Cybersecurity, Health Care, Transit, Manufacturing, Civil Service | Inland Empire | $1,824,000 | 380 |
| Workforce Development Apprenticeship Program - Workforce Development Board Kern, Inyo & Mono | Workforce Development CWA | Central Valley, Bay Area, Los Angeles and Kern | $640,000 | 133 |
| South Bay WIB | Bio-Manufacturing, Healthcare, IT, Arts/Media/Entertainment, Energy/Climate |
Los Angeles, Bay Area and Central Valley | $2 Million | 417 |
| Statewide Expansion of Early Care & Education Registered Apprenticeship Programs (ECEPTS) | Early Childhood Education, Teachers, Home Visitor/Paraprofessional | Los Angeles, Bay Area and Central Valley | $592,000 | 123 |
| Jumpstart San Luis Obispo Partners | IT, Professional Services, Early Childhood Education, Advanced Manufacturing | Central Coast | $2 million | 380 |
| P4E | EMT & Paramedic | Bay Area | $240,000 | 50 |
In July of 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor announced DIR was a recipient of the State Apprenticeship Expansion, Equity and Innovation grant. The grant provided DIR and DAS the opportunity to offer $7,296,000 in grant funds to qualified workforce investment boards and the apprenticeship program sponsors with which they work.
The grant funds will support programs to increase access for target populations, align with federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs, implement co-enrollment strategies, provide supportive services and create onramps to career pathways for underserved communities including those affected by COVID-19.
“These funds will provide opportunities for well-paying careers and address workforce needs in new and creative ways,” said DAS Chief Eric Rood.
The Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Apprenticeship Standards consults with employers to develop a skilled workforce, by establishing innovative apprenticeship programs that offer training, to create viable career pathways for Californians.
Contact: Communications@dir.ca.gov