Workforce office outlines job fairs, vocational training and $500,000 grant application for JPL layoffs

Judith Velasco, the workforce administrator, told commissioners the Verdugo Job Center continues to see strong demand and is running multiple training and employer‑engagement initiatives.

Velasco said the center assists about "65 new clients a week" and has served more than 2,500 clients since July, focusing on people with barriers to employment, including those with disabilities, low‑income residents and people who have experienced homelessness. The department partners with vetted training providers to offer short vocational programs (two to nine months) and reported more than 200 clients receiving classroom training to date.

Staff promoted an employer health care job fair scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 9:30–11:30 a.m. at Pacific Community Center with more than 25 employers confirmed; organizers said positions will range from entry level to mid‑level health occupations. Velasco also described youth employment work through the Glendale Youth Alliance and other grant‑driven initiatives.

On layoffs at JPL/Caltech, Velasco said the city submitted an application for a targeted grant to support impacted workers. "We submitted the application. The application is for 500,000 to assist them with skill retraining, certification, and any other thing that they have," she said, noting the layoffs could affect over 500 individuals and the program would tailor training toward life sciences and other transferrable sectors where possible.

Velasco also listed recent grant activity: a $5,000 award from a Baskin Robbins microgrant for grocery gift cards, a $357,000 Caltrans community cleanup grant application, and a $35,000 community health improvement grant application to support homeless diversion and housing vouchers.