In addition to state mandated programs, such as Career and Technical Education, the K12 Strong Workforce Program, and the California Apprenticeship Initiative, the Workforce and Economic Development Department oversees special project assignments to pilot new initiatives that provide lessons and opportunities to meet the needs of a dynamic economy where the workforce and workforce skills are constantly evolving.
There are currently 108 total grants being implemented by community colleges across the state. These grants are upskilling students in information technology, supporting dual enrollment partnerships with high schools, building partnerships with local workforce boards and building trades councils, offering credit for prior learning in construction fields, and creating pathways to careers for refugees and Special Immigrant Visa students. For questions about any of the special project grants, contact Dean Ochoa at LOchoa@CCCCO.edu.
A summary of programs is listed below.
Regional Equity and Recovery Partnership Grants (RERP)
75 grants to establish a Regional Equity and Recovery Partnership (RERP) with a local workforce development board Regional Planning Unit (RPU) of the California Workforce Development Board. The partnership will connect workers most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to high-quality jobs in target and growth industry sectors.
This program goes through September 2025.
High Road Construction Careers Partnership Grants (HRCC)
9 grants to support collaboration with High Roads Construction Careers (HRCC) partner members, including local building trades councils, to build credit for prior (CPL) learning infrastructure for the North America’s Building Trades Unions’ (NABTU) Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) or a state-approved building trades’ joint labor management apprenticeship program.
Round 1 (4 grants) of this program goes through September 2025.
Round 2 (5 grants) of this program goes through September 2026.
