Workforce Investment Act and Wagner-Peyser Extension

California’s Strategic Plan for Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Wagner-Peyser Act has been extended by the Department of Labor for an additional year.  The new expiration date is June 30, 2011.  A copy of the extension letter is available here.  Please check back for additional guidance and instructions for the implementation of the approved waivers.

Department Announces Grant to Assist 4,300 Workers Affected by Layoffs at California’s New United Motors Manufacturing, Inc.

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis has announced a $19,042,012 grant to assist some 4,300 workers affected by layoffs at New United Motors Manufacturing Inc. located in Fremont and several of NUMMI's supplier companies. The announcement took place at the NUMMI Re-employment Center.

See the full press release here

Eligible Youth Grants

The California Workforce Investment Board announces the awarding of $500,000 in High Concentration of Eligible Youth Grants.  These grants are funded by the Governor’s Workforce Investment Act Discretionary fund and have been awarded to the following six Local Workforce Investment Areas:  Madera County Workforce Investment Board, Monterey County Workforce Investment Board, North Central Counties Consortium, Oakland Workforce Investment Board, Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network, and the Tulare County Workforce Investment Board. 
Each recipient received an $83,000 grant to provide priority and focused services to eligible youth in one of the following categories:  foster youth, youth offenders, youth with disabilities, migrant and seasonal farmer worker youth, youth of incarcerated parents, and Indian and Native American youth.

Preparing for Healthcare Reform: A Dialogue on Healthcare Workforce Development

Labor and Workforce Development Agency, Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, and the California Workforce Investment Board hosted this event May 27, 2010 to hear the health industry’s perspective on workforce development in light of Federal health care reform.  These agencies are tasked with aiding in the implementation of the workforce development provisions of the Federal Health Care Reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. To view the presentation in Adobe format, please click here.

Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Loan Applications for Clean Energy Business Financing Program Available

Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Loan Applications for Clean Energy Business Financing Program Available
California Clean Energy Manufacturers Will Receive $30 million
See Press Release here

REGIONAL INDUSTRY CLUSTER OF OPPORTUNITY GRANT AWARDS

On February 18, 2009, the California Recovery Taskforce announced the award of over $2 million in Regional Industry Cluster of Opportunity Grants (RICOG).  To view the California Recovery Taskforce announcement and the list of awardees please click here. These grants are a part of the California Workforce Investment’s Board’s Regional Economic Competitiveness Strategy and will bolster regional economic competitiveness by building the capacity of regional collaborations to identify growing industries, undertake strategic planning and leverage public and private resources.

The grant solicitation was a joint effort between the California Workforce Investment Board, the California Energy Commission, and California Economic Strategy Panel.  The grants were funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and Assembly Bill 118, the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program.

The State Board would like to thank the members of the Green Collar Jobs Council (GCJC) for their oversight and hard work in developing the RICOG solicitation and the Green Workforce Initiative. This grant award further acknowledges the success of the GCJC and California as a national leader in Green Technology.

State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Initiative Awards

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today (1/20/2010) announced the awards for the State Energy Sector Partnership (SESP) and Training Initiative.  The SESP grants total $190 million of the $500 million in Green Jobs training grant funds made available by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.

The California Workforce Investment Board (State Board) is pleased to announce that California was awarded the maximum award amount of $6 million. To view Secretary Solis’ announcement, please click here. 

Regional Project Teams selected for this proposal include the Alameda County Workforce Investment Board, Los Angeles City Workforce Investment Board, Northern Rural Training and Employment Consortium, Sacramento Employment and Training Agency, and the San Diego Workforce Partnership. In addition, the grant will also allow for the development of a Central Valley Regional Project Team.

The State Board would like to thank the members of the Green Collar Jobs Council (GCJC) for their diligence and hard work in developing the SESP Grant and the Green Workforce Training Initiative. This grant award further acknowledges the success of the GCJC and California as a national leader in Green Technology.

Webcast of Governor Schwarzenegger's Green Jobs Briefing

Governor Schwarzenegger was briefed on 12/09/09 by Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary Victoria Bradshaw  concerning Clean Technology and California Green Jobs. To view the webcast, please click here.

Attention RICOG applicants

Please note the changes of reading and announcement dates for the RICOG SFP applications. Readings will take place the week of January 4,  2010, with award announcements following. If you have any questions, please email RICOG@cwib.ca.gov.

An addendum dated 12/01/09 to the SFP is posted here and on the Green Collar Jobs Council page.

View the addendum here.

Click here to proceed to the 2nd Q & A for 11-19-09 in the RICOG Section

Click here to proceed to the Q & A for 11-3-09 under the RICOG Section

$10.4 Million Available In Recovery Act Training Grants To Address Shortages Of Skilled Workers In Strategic Industries

The Employment Development Department, in coordination with the California Workforce Investment Board, on behalf of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, announced the availability of up to $10.4 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), Workforce Investment Act, Governor’s Discretionary 15 Percent funds to expand job training through a Solicitation for Proposals (SFP). Projects will focus training and job placement entrants in industries that are experiencing a shortage of skilled workers.

For details and a copy of the solicitation click here