Oakland, CA – The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) have announced $68 million in new funding to expand apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs across California. This investment aims to create career pathways, address labor shortages, and support employers committed to the apprenticeship model. Expand Apprenticeships and Create Jobs
Strengthening California’s Workforce
“Apprenticeships are the gold standard of workforce training, and under Governor Newsom, we have expanded this pathway to good jobs in advanced manufacturing, transit, and healthcare.”
This major investment will provide hands-on job training and remove employment barriers. Specifically, the funding includes:
- $52 million in Apprenticeship Innovation Funding (AIF) to support new and expanding apprenticeship programs in high-demand industries like technology and healthcare.
- $16 million from the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship (COYA) grant to help young people (ages 16–24), particularly those out of school or unemployed, enter the workforce.
“California continues to lead the way in expanding apprenticeship programs to fill labor gaps. This funding will help employers and program sponsors cover costs while creating pathways to well-paying jobs.”
Building on Success
This marks the third round of AIF funding. Previous rounds awarded $41.7 million to 73 registered apprenticeship programs, leading to significant growth. For example:
- The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority increased its apprentices from 80 to 258, filling critical bus driver vacancies.
Meanwhile, the COYA funding focuses on opportunity youth—those facing challenges such as foster care involvement, child welfare issues, or juvenile justice system experience.
- In the first COYA round, $31 million supported 51 projects.
- EMS Corps used $1.8 million to train Firefighter and Paramedic pre-apprentices.
- The California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee, the state’s largest apprenticeship program, currently has 12,129 active apprentices.
“We are dedicated to creating a seamless system that connects youth to employment through apprenticeships. This earn-and-learn model helps young people gain job skills while earning a wage and upskilling through subsidized coursework.”
Statewide Workforce Investment
This funding builds on Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent announcement of $92 million for workforce training programs. These investments align with the Jobs First Economic Blueprint, which prioritizes job creation and economic growth. Expand Apprenticeships and Create Jobs
How to Apply
Eligible programs can apply for AIF funding to reimburse apprenticeship training costs. To learn more, applicants can attend an informational session on February 27, 2025.
For COYA funding, applicants must:
- Have at least two years of experience serving opportunity youth.
- Show a track record of helping young people gain employment.
- Be a local education agency, union, workforce development board, or apprenticeship program sponsor.
To assist applicants, a COYA informational session will take place on March 20, 2025.
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