The Associated General Contractors of California's Construction Education Foundation (AGC CEF) announced that it was awarded a $1 million High Road Training Program (HRTP) grant by the California Workforce Development Board.
The grant is part of a larger $18 million statewide investment aimed at increasing access to existing jobs for underserved populations and creating pathways for incumbent workers seeking job growth with High Road employers.
AGC CEF will execute its grant-funded scope in close partnership with the Northern California
Laborers Training Center (LTC) and the Southern California Laborers Training School (LTS).
Over the grant period, the project will deliver eight Laborers Build California pre-apprenticeship cohorts, preparing 168 underrepresented Californians for direct entry into union-affiliated construction apprenticeships.
The grant supports AGC CEF's Build California program in three key areas:
• expand access to high-roads, construction careers for women, BIPOC, justice-involved individuals, low-income and opportunity youth and veterans;
• develop a scalable and replicable pre-apprenticeship model that integrates worker voice, employer engagement and wraparound supportive services; and
• improve retention and job quality by strengthening inclusive jobsite culture through employer training and bystander intervention practices.
"This investment strengthens our long-standing partnership with the Northern and Southern California Laborers Training Centers and advances our shared mission," said Peter Tateishi, CEO of AGC of California. "We believe construction careers transform lives.
"By aligning industry leadership with hands-on training expertise, we are expanding opportunity and inspiring a construction industry where people belong, grow and build lasting legacies."
