Employment Training Panel approves roughly $12.07 million for 39 workforce-training projects

The Employment Training Panel on March 27 approved 39 proposals that, if all executed, will provide about $12.07 million in training funds to businesses and training providers across California.

Executive Director Jessica Grimes told the panel that the packet before members included 39 proposals and that, “if approved, ETP will fund projects totaling approximately $12,100,000.” Grimes said the funded projects are concentrated in manufacturing and that the program is expanding access to new contractors this fiscal year.

The panel approved a long list of single-employer and multiple-employer proposals, including the following items at a glance: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems (ET26-0273), $599,760; Betts Company (ET26-0252), $476,000; BFS Group of California (ET26-0270), $599,200; Edwards Lifesciences (critical proposal), $838,880; Foothill Packing (ET26-0259), $329,280; Motive Energy Storage Systems (ET26-0264), $537,264; Glendale Community College Professional Development Center (ET26-0263), $849,847; Mount San Antonio College, $849,048; Murrieta Chamber of Commerce (ET26-0276), $849,464; Trojan Battery Company (ET26-0124), $504,000; and Shasta Builders Exchange (ET26-0262), $632,795. Each of these motions was moved, seconded and approved on the record during the meeting.

Staff outlined several operational changes. Tara Armstrong, deputy director and chief information officer, said ETP will pilot Microsoft Copilot to support staff work and will streamline the online application before the next application window opens May 1. Armstrong said the system will now flag applications that request more than a single‑employer cap and prompt applicants to adjust their training plan before submission.

Panel members pressed applicants on wage progression and retention during many presentations. For example, Abbott’s Steven Payne described the intensity of medical-device training and said, “Each training event for one of our production operators is an investment of approximately $2,000, and that’s just in time and labor alone,” underscoring why employers come to ETP for support.

The panel also heard an informational memo on Paid Family Leave small-business grants and approved three awardees selected through the competitive solicitation.

What’s next: staff will implement the application adjustments and follow up on the approved contracts. The panel also directed staff to continue monitoring the legislative changes identified in the meeting and to return with analysis as needed.