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For Immediate Release
September 19, 2024
LA County Invests $26.3 million in High Road Training Partnerships for Regional Recovery and Mobility
Los Angeles, CA – The LA County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is investing $26.3 million in a High Road Training Partnerships (HRTPs) to serve more than 1,600 trainees, 1,360 graduates, 1020 new hires, and yield job quality, equity, and sustainability for the region. As of September 2024, DEO and partners have launched three new HRTPs in aerospace, healthcare, and digital storytelling for immediate enrollment for 70 trainees, initiating a $2.81 million combined investment for 200 trainees overall - made possible by the LA County Board of Supervisors and its prioritization of American Rescue Plan and Care First Community Investment dollars for youth, workers, small businesses, and major industries after the pandemic.
- The Aerospace High Road Training Partnership with Lost Angels and Training Funding Partners, a $1 million investment,will train 70 disadvantaged youth in the Antelope Valley for aerospace careers, provide the County with an Industry Landscape Report, and a 5-year Industry Strategy. The first cohort begins on September 24th with another cohort scheduled for January 2025. Interested participants can sign up for an info session here.
- The Healthcare High Road Training Partnership with the Pilipino Worker Center, a $1.28 million investment,will train 100 people in home healthcare, assist them in securing State registration, and educate them on joining or forming a worker cooperative to improve industry standards, worker rights, and pay. Interested participants can sign up for an information session here: bit.ly/CaringWorkforceLACounty.
- The Creative Economy High Road Training Partnership with Venice Arts, a 535K investment, will train 30 youth in multimedia production through a Digital Storytelling Pre-Apprenticeship. The first cohort starts October 15th (with a 9/20 application deadline) and the next cohort is scheduled for January 15th. Interested participants can sign up for an info session here: bit.ly/DigitalStorytellingVA
“Los Angeles County, through our Department of Economic Opportunity, is here to connect our workforce to careers in high growth sectors,” said Board Chair Lindsey P. Horvath. “These training opportunities prepare and connect our communities to jobs in aerospace, storytelling, and healthcare, which are in need of talent. Los Angeles County is here to be a partner in supporting people just starting their career or transitioning fields.”
"As a former Secretary of Labor, I understand that investing in our workforce is not just a necessity but a moral imperative,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, First District. “This $26 million initiative will empower our workers with the skills they need to thrive in high-demand industries, ensuring equitable job opportunities and good-paying jobs. By prioritizing training that uplifts our communities, we are not only strengthening our economy but also reaffirming our commitment to building a sustainable future for all Angelenos."
“I’m thrilled to celebrate the launch of two new High Road Training Partnership career pathway programs in aerospace and healthcare. These programs represent a bold step toward building an equitable future for our workforce by creating accessible, high-quality jobs in industries vital to LA County’s growth,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Second District. “By investing in our communities and prioritizing inclusion and economic mobility, we are empowering individuals to pursue meaningful careers while strengthening our local economy. Together, we’re ensuring that opportunity reaches every corner of our county.”
“Our families and communities do best when people have access to a diverse range of education and career paths, and when they’re equipped to pursue them,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. “This program not only helps ensure that our economy remains competitive and innovative, it also represents an investment in our people and in the huge diversity of knowledge and skill that they bring.”
“We are living in a tough economic climate with a high cost of living, so that means we need to invest in creating training and access to higher paying jobs,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “I am proud to continue championing our County’s efforts to strengthen and grow our workforce development initiatives, especially in the Antelope Valley. Lost Angels does a terrific job equipping our youth with the skills they need to get good paying jobs in competitive fields. This is truly a great investment that will change forever lives.”
“HRTPs are the gold standard for workforce development. We recognize our business and our worker customers, we meet their collective hiring and training needs, and we inspire a new economy in our region where all of our workers and their families can thrive,” shares Kelly LoBianco, Director of DEO. “We’re grateful for this opportunity to build on a successful State model and invest these important funds in those who need them most right here in Los Angeles County. We hope everyone takes advantage and helps us get the word out.”
LA County's HRTPs are modeled on the California Workforce Development Board's HRTP demonstration project, which has now awarded $248 million to 93 projects since 2017. HRTPs are partnerships that identify an industry need, lift worker voice, and deploy an employer-driven curriculum and training solution, often highlighting apprenticeships. The goal is to support a diverse and competitive pipeline of talent in growth industries, with employers who are high-road and reinvest locally, and ensure job quality, equity, and sustainability for the region and state.
“We express gratitude to the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity for their investment in a community that was hit hard by the pandemic," said Aquilina Soriano Versoza, Executive Director of the Pilipino Worker Center. "As we aim to elevate the standard of care and job quality in the homecare industry through exceptional training and hands-on experience as members of a worker cooperative, we are excited to create pathways to job opportunities with dignity for care workers, improving the quality of care for clients, and contributing to a stronger, more empowered Los Angeles.”
“Los Angels is thrilled to partner with DEO on the Aerospace High Road Training Partnership in the Antelope Valley. These are the youth that are building tomorrow,” said Aaron Valencia, Founder & Executive Director of Angels Career Center. “It’s amazing to have the county come together to invest in their future.”
“We are excited to partner with the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity on our Digital Storytelling Pre-Apprenticeship program,” said Jaime Zavala, Executive Director of Venice Arts. “This initiative allows us to offer young people hands-on training in filmmaking and editing, equipping them with both the creative vision and technical skills needed to thrive in the digital media industry. Through this partnership, we are creating pathways to meaningful careers in film and media, while ensuring that access to these opportunities is inclusive and equitable."
To date, DEO has launched HRTPs in construction with the Apprenticeship Readiness Fund and the Los Angeles and Orange County Building and Construction Trades Counsel; digital editing with Venice Arts; early care and education with Los Angeles County Office of Education, Child Care Resource Center, West LA College, and Pierce College; and tech with BuildWithin, a US Department of Labor Apprenticeship Hub in our region. Of those enrolled, 195 individuals have completed the program to date with 152 successful hires in jobs with a $20.15/hour median wage. More than 63 percent of participants are from communities highly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic based on the County’s Equity Explorer Mapping Tool.
Sabrina A. graduated from the Construction HRTP with top honors in 2023. She applied to the Glaziers Local 636 union and is steadily working making over $23/hr. "I have overcome so many barriers while being in this program. I am more independent because of it. I am applying to the Local Union in Los Angeles County, and I hope that I get to be a future instructor to support my two daughters,” Sabrina said.
Charley completed the Creative Arts High Road Training Partnership with Venice Arts, including the Digital Editing Pre-Apprenticeship. He was successfully placed in an unsubsidized internship with a production company that hired him on full time. His job allows him to wear multiple hats while continuing productions and other duties in the office that will provide a wide array of experience and ensure his continued growth and development.
DEO is investing in the development and expansion of these models in green construction, film and digital media, tech, early care and education, aerospace and defense, health and homecare, hospitality and food service, and more. DEO also couples these programs with targeted outreach, trauma-informed program delivery, no-cost tuition, training stipends, supportive services and flexible cash assistance through a $2 million Worker Equity Fund, and hiring, retention, and advancement support aligned to the County’s public workforce system, the America’s Job Centers of California. All eligible HRTP participants have access to $1,500 in one-time emergency assistance for rent, childcare, or other barrier to program or job retention.
Additional HRTP programs, including cohorts for new and existing programs and grant opportunities for partnerships, will be launch in 2024 and 2025. These will be available at opportunity.lacounty.gov and highlighted in weekly newsletters. Sign up for the latest at bit.ly/SubscribeDEO
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About DEO: The LA County Department of Economic Opportunity, launched in July 2022, helps job seekers, entrepreneurs, small businesses, major industries, and communities access life changing opportunities, and is also home to the LA County Workforce Development Board and 18 America’s Job Centers of California. Stay connected with DEO! Follow @EconOppLA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, subscribe to our newsletter, or visit opportunity.lacounty.gov to learn about DEO services. For questions related to High Road Training Partnerships, please contact DEO at hrtp@opportunity.lacounty.gov.
Contact:
Lara Arsinian, Head of Marketing & Communications
press@opportunity.lacounty.gov or 844-777-2059
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