LA County High Road Training Partnerships

Green Futures LA

Green Futures LA with Get Focused Stay Focused supports opportunity youth and young adults in launching careers in high-growth green industries through a pre-apprenticeship–style pathway designed to lead to Registered Apprenticeship Programs or quality jobs, such as solar panel installers, EV Station Technician, Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers, Water And Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators. The program begins with an 8-week Pathway to Careers™ Academy (80 hours) focused on career readiness and foundational skills. Participants earn industry-recognized credentials, including Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E (Electrical Safety), Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), and SAE International Electrical Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) certification for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Qualified participants then move in up to 320 hours of paid, structured work experience, gaining real-world exposure to green career pathways, and building the skills needed for long-term advancement.

Installation Basics Training

GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles (GLA) offers a 13-week paid training program that opens doors to careers in the growing clean energy sector, with a focus on supporting individuals from underserved and frontline communities. Participants complete a 300-hour Installation Basics Training (IBT 200) program that blends classroom learning with hands-on experience installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on real-world projects. The program builds practical, job-ready skills while helping participants earn more than 13 industry-recognized certifications, including electrical safety, wiring, system layout, mounting, and installation. Beyond technical training, the program provides jobs through direct connections with employers and apprenticeships that lead to long-term career pathways in renewable energy and related green industries in occupations including solar panel installers, smart home energy technicians, low voltage technicians, and electrical helpers. This training is designed to support stable employment, career growth, and a meaningful role in building a cleaner, more resilient future.

MC3 Pre-Apprenticeship

The Apprenticeship Readiness Fund offers a 10-week Registered Pre-Apprenticeship Program designed to help participants take their first steps into a union apprenticeship and a long-term career in construction. Trainees complete 120 hours of hands-on, industry-approved training that builds real skills employers require. The program combines practical instruction, physical conditioning, and essential trade knowledge using the nationally recognized Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3). Participants graduate confidently, prepared, and job ready. By the end of the program, trainees will earn their MC3 certification; Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 safety certification; and CPR and First Aid certifications. In addition, trainees will access Registered Apprenticeship Program pathways with the Los Angeles and Orange County Building Trades.

Soundworks

10-week program for transitional-aged youth in live sound, lighting, and video production with integrated wellness support. 200 hours classroom training plus 80 hours paid hands-on experience as Audio/Video Technicians and Camera Operators. Earn Adobe Premiere Pro and AVID Pro Tools certifications.

Workforce Innovation Network (WIN)

Through WIN, New Earth prepares young adults each year for careers in audio engineering through a paid, hands-on training pathway. Participants receive a modest stipend of $900 during an 8-week training phase that includes 160 hours of technical instruction and career readiness support. Graduates then advance to up to 200 hours of paid, on-the-job training for a duration of up to 200 hours, working on real-world production projects with employer partner Codega Media. This pathway leads to in-demand roles, such as sound engineering technician roles, which pay an average of $40.70/hour in LA County.

Arts, Media, and Entertainment (AME) Pathways

The Arts, Media, and Entertainment (AME) Pathways program expands access to high-skill, high-wage careers in LA County’s creative economy for underrepresented workers. Through Pre and Apprenticeship Programs and on-the-job training lasting from 8 weeks to one year, participants receive paid training, stipends, mentorship, and career coaching across sectors such as Film and Television, Music and Audio, Live Events, and Digital Media. Delivered in partnership with employer partners, labor unions, and Registered Apprenticeship Program Sponsors, the program strengthens workforce pipelines and advances economic mobility in California’s creative industries.

Bridge to Behavioral Health Careers: Empowering Talent with Lived Experience

This high-road behavioral health training program creates supported pathways into meaningful careers for people with lived experience. By combining peer-based learning, employer-informed training, and paid transitional employment, the program connects participants to roles that strengthen both personal stability and community well-being. The program prepares participants for careers as Peer Support Specialists through a 150-hour training model that blends hands-on experience with classroom learning. Training is delivered in two stages to support skill-building and long-term success. The first stage includes 70 hours of paid transitional work and training, where participants build core workplace skills and gain eligibility to continue into the full program. The second stage consists of 80 hours of classroom-based instruction, covering essential competencies such as conflict resolution, communication, and digital literacy.

Caring Workforce Training Program

This Home Health Care training program – the Caring Workforce Training Program with the Pilipino Worker Center (PWC) - creates flexible, supported pathways into stable, higher-paying careers in the care economy, recognizing and building on participants’ different levels of experience. In Track 1, also known as Foundational Training, participants complete a 9-week paid training program that combines classroom instruction with hands-on, on-the-job learning. Participants earn an hourly wage of $22, receive California Home Care Aide registration, and gain access to higher wages and the opportunity to join a worker-owned cooperative, offering greater stability and shared ownership in the workplace. Participants with prior home care experience may enter Track 2 also known as Advanced Skills Training. This is a 5-week advanced training program focused on specialized skills such as dementia and Alzheimer’s care and preventing re-hospitalization. These in-demand skills prepare participants for higher-paying roles that require advanced expertise within the home healthcare sector. Together, both tracks offer high-impact entry points into the home care workforce, supporting career growth, fair wages, and long-term opportunities in an essential and growing industry.

From Recovery to Resilience: Rebuilding Behavioral Health Career Pathways

This HRTP includes three training tracks, including Substance Use Disorders Counseling, Peer Support Specialist, and Community Health Worker. All trainings use a culturally responsive, trauma-informed training curriculum developed in collaboration with frontline workers, employers, and training providers. Across all tracks, participants also receive specialized instruction on the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in behavioral health settings. Through case studies and hands-on activities, training addresses topics such as privacy and data protection, bias and equity, informed consent, and responsible use of digital tools for case management and resource navigation.

Culinary Arts Workforce Development Program

The SoLa Culinary Arts Workforce Development Program builds pathways into living-wage careers in the hospitality and tourism industry while investing in the talent and leadership of South Los Angeles youth. The program trains young people, ages 18 to 28, in culinary arts, entrepreneurship, catering, and restaurant operations, connecting participants to high road jobs and opportunities for new business creation in underinvested communities. Participants complete 6 to 8 weeks (120 hours) of hands-on training, credentialing, and 15 to 25 hours of paid work experience, with options to specialize in entrepreneurship, restaurant operations, or catering. The program is supported by an employer network of established small businesses and corporate partners that offer living wages, predictable schedules, safe workplaces, and clear pathways for advancement. For those interested in business ownership, the program also supports entrepreneurship pathways, including business model development and cost planning, creating access to LA County’s growing microenterprise home kitchen operator (MEHKO) ecosystem.

Digital Navigator

The Digital Navigator Program helps people build real tech skills while making a difference in their communities. Participants receive tuition-free training for in-demand IT careers and the support they need to succeed. Over 13 to 15 weeks, participants choose one of three credentialed pathways: IT Support, IT Support with Data Center Operations, or Cybersecurity. Participants gain hands-on skills that employers are looking for. After training, participants move into a paid, 12-week internship (20 hours per week) with either Los Angeles County’s Internal Services Department or Goodwill Southern California, accessing real-world experience troubleshooting technology, supporting IT systems, and learning cybersecurity practices, while earning industry-recognized credentials. The program also provides wraparound support, including help with transportation and childcare. Interns placed with Goodwill serve as Digital Navigators, helping community members build digital skills and access technology. Interns placed with the County of Los Angeles gain direct experience in public-sector IT departments and community technology centers. By the end of the program, participants leave with paid work experience, credentials, professional connections, and clear pathways into tech careers, while helping expand digital access across LA County.

BRIDGES LA

This program supports participants in building skills for in-demand careers in technology through two industry-aligned tracks: Clean Tech and Ethical AI (preparation for roles focused on responsible AI use, data management, and emerging technologies) and Data and eDiscovery (pathways into careers at the intersection of law and technology). Each track begins with a Career Exploration Bootcamp that builds foundational workplace and business skills before moving into hybrid training. Throughout the program, participants receive stipends, case management, and job placement support, with clear pathways into union apprenticeships or living-wage jobs such as Computer Support Specialist, Data Technician, AI Ethics Compliance Assistant, Legal Tech Assistant, or Paralegal Support.

Preparing Los Angeles for County Employment (PLACE)

The PLACE program is the County’s public sector HRTP, designed to expand equitable access to stable, family-sustaining careers in County government. As the region’s largest high road employer, the County offers more than 100,000 public sector jobs that provide competitive wages, benefits, and long-term career stability. PLACE helps ensure these opportunities are accessible to LA County residents experiencing poverty and others facing barriers to employment. The program provides 6 to 8 weeks of customized professional development, including civil service exam preparation, paid stipends, and wraparound supportive services that help participants successfully navigate County hiring pathways and enter the public workforce. To strengthen and expand this effort, DEO will release a Request for Proposals (RFP) to onboard new training providers and relaunch the PLACE program. The relaunch will expand training capacity, deepen partnerships with County departments, and build stronger pipelines into public sector careers that reflect and serve local communities. PLACE builds on a strong foundation of successful placements and cross-departmental collaboration, positioning the program to scale and connect even more residents to high-quality public service careers.

SAFER LA - Strengthening Access to Fire Education and Reentry

SAFER LA is designed for people who have already put their lives on the line fighting wildfires. The program turns that experience into real credentials and a clear pathway to stable careers in firefighting, forestry, and land conservation. This 10-month program provides participants currently serving in fire camps with hands-on instruction and work-based training, 279 hours of in-camp training, and 72 hours of work-based learning, preparing them for roles such as firefighters, forest and fire inspectors, prevention specialists, and forest or conservation technicians. While the initial cohort focuses on individuals currently in fire camps, those who have already returned home or who exit before completing training may be eligible to continue through Credit for Prior Learning and complete the program at East Los Angeles College, in alignment with Los Angeles Community College District policies. Graduates earn a 17-unit Certificate of Achievement in Wildland Firefighting and nationally recognized National Wildfire Coordinating Group “Basic 32” certifications, opening doors to long-term careers protecting communities and California’s natural lands.