Workforce Training
The successful transition of California’s petroleum based transportation market will require a workforce skilled in alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. The workforce must be trained to produce alternative and renewable fuels, manufacture alternative fuel vehicles and components, construct alternative fueling infrastructure, and to operate, service, and maintain clean vehicles.
To meet the workforce needs of businesses adopting clean transportation fuels and technologies, the Energy Commission has allocated over $15 million to support workforce training programs. This funding helps workforce development and training entities to expand their programs to include alternative fuels and advance vehicle technologies to meet the workforce needs of the advanced transportation sector.
Employment Training Panel (ETP)
The Employment Training Panel (ETP) is a business and labor supported state agency that assists employers in strengthening their competitive edge by providing funds to off-set the costs of job skills training necessary to maintain high-performance workplaces.
The Program has partnered with the California Employment Training Panel to fund training contracts with companies who need to train workers in alternative fuel and vehicle technologies. This performance-based training delivery system will provide the Program with measurable results in the number of businesses served and trainees trained.
The Employment Training Panel will disburse over $6 million in workforce training and development funds through reimbursable fixed-fee performance contracts. The training contracts will fund job skills training for individuals employed by companies that develop or deploy new fuels and vehicle technologies.
Workforce training delivered under this agreement will meet the training needs of employers who have been awarded program funds and first adopters who have already developed or deployed new fuels and vehicle technologies. Eligible trainees are primarily current employees that require upgrade training related to the adoption of alternative fuel or vehicle technology.
Training contracts are funded on a fixed-fee reimbursement rate. Contractors are only reimbursed for training based on the number of trainees who complete training and a 90-day post training employment/retention period.
For information on the program and application process, contact the Economic Development Unit at EDU@etp.ca.gov.
Employment Development Department: (EDD)
www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov
The EDD delivers pre-paid training and employment services to unemployed, under-employed and incumbent workers and helps employers find skilled workers. Under the ARFVTP partnership agreement EDD will focus their services and expertise to meet the evolving workforce needs of the advanced transportation industry.
You can find more details at the Energy Commission’s Clean Energy Jobs site.
California Workforce Investment Board (CWIB)
The ARFVT program has partnered with the CWIB to develop Regional Industry Clusters of Opportunity (RICO) grants related to alternative fuels and advanced transportation industry clusters throughout California. The RICO initiative is a structured economic and workforce development planning process that brings regional economic and workforce development practitioners and business together to develop regional strategies to support and advance the competitive position of targeted industry clusters.
California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO)
This partnership resulted in an advanced transportation industry workforce training needs assessment and report. Future assessments will include information on advanced transportation courses currently being offered throughout California’s Community College System and what is needed to improve those offerings.