FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2025
Contact
Angela Herrera Perez, Senior Public Information Specialist
press@opportunity.lacounty.gov
DEO Awards $1 Million to Launch Digital Navigators Program
New High Road Training Partnership Bridges the Digital Divide and Expands Pathways to Quality Tech Careers
Los Angeles, CA— The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has awarded $1 million to Per Scholas and cross-sector partners through its High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) Fund, part of a broader $34 million County investment to date to advance worker-centered, industry-informed, and partner-led training for equity, job quality, and climate resilience.
The new Digital Navigators program will connect LA County residents to quality and in-demand jobs in the technology sector, expand digital access across the region, and create long-term career pathways for residents who have been historically excluded from the digital economy. Through this investment, 100 participants will receive 300 to 500 hours of hands-on instruction, earn industry-recognized credentials such as CompTIA A+ and Google IT Support, and gain paid, real-world experience by serving as Digital Navigators, helping community members build digital literacy and access technology.
The program will be led by Per Scholas, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing tech careers, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department (ISD) and its Delete the Divide Initiative, Goodwill of Southern California, Manpower Engineering, the Boyle Heights Technology YouthSource Center, and Per Scholas alumni and industry professionals. This partnership was awarded from a pool of 44 competitive applicants.
“In 2025, searching for a job, visiting a doctor, or signing up for a bank account all require digital access and know-how. This $1 million investment is catalyzing a workforce of Digital Navigators that will support community members in overcoming the very real digital divide, which we know disproportionately impacts Black, Latino, Indigenous, and other historically disinvested households, while also advancing the Navigators’ skills and experiences for dynamic, cross-sector tech careers here in Los Angeles County,” said Kelly LoBianco, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity. “We are so excited to build on our digital equity investments at DEO and across the County through this new program and partnership.”
“At Per Scholas, we believe that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Through the High Road Digital Pathways partnership, we’re changing that — connecting Angelenos from underrepresented communities to the education, tools, and experiences they need to thrive in the technology sector. We know we cannot do this work alone—-our success comes from the power of partnership, where organizations, funders, and community come together to build a future where digital equity, economic mobility, and human potential move forward together,” said Patrice Madu, Managing Director, Per Scholas Los Angeles.
This program builds on the County’s long-standing commitment to digital equity, beginning in 2021 with the Board of Supervisors launch of the Delete the Divide initiative and now moves forward with the County’s three-year Digital Equity Roadmap to close the digital divide.
“The Internal Services Department is proud to partner with DEO and Per Scholas on the Digital Navigators program–a significant investment in our economic engine that will provide training for high-road tech careers. This effort is not just providing infrastructure; we are building a corps of skilled professionals who will help their neighbors get online, get connected, and access the vital resources they need. This unified commitment will reinforce the Delete the Divideinitiative and achieve a resilient and digitally inclusive future for our County,” said Michael Owh, Director of the Internal Services Department.
Since its launch in 2022, DEO has been an active partner in the County’s Delete the Divide initiative, advancing digital equity for all workers, small businesses, and residents. Through this work, DEO is helping prepare LA County residents for a rapidly changing economy, one where technology, digital literacy, and innovation are essential to success.
As part of its Shop Local LA County campaign and with generous support of Microsoft, DEO and Align launched the Digital Skills LA County, providing 475 local, small businesses, 80% of them minority-owned, with tools and training to strengthen their digital presence, expand their online customer base, and leverage platforms like Google and Yelp to grow.
Through its HRTP Fund, DEO is also investing in the next generation of skilled workers in tech. This Digital Navigators program will further advance the HRTP Fund’s outcomes in the tech sector, which to date has provided training through seven grantees to over 100 participants for tech sector jobs and training for jobs requiring significant tech or digital skills in the entertainment, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare sectors.
The HRTP Fund is delivered by DEO with Dalberg Consulting U.S., LLC, and UCLA Labor Center. For more information about DEO’s High Road Training Partnership Fund, visit opportunity.lacounty.gov/hrtp/.
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About DEO: The LA County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has a vision for a more equitable economy with thriving communities, inclusive and sustainable growth, and opportunity and mobility for all. The department, with its America’s Job Centers of California, Office of Small Business, and hundreds of programs and partners, creates quality jobs, helps small businesses and high-road employers start and grow, and builds vibrant communities and spaces. 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.