February 27, 2026
Contact:Angela Herrera Perez, Senior Public Information Specialist press@opportunity.lacounty.gov
LA County Launches Targeted Training Provider Pilot to Support Wildfire Recovery and Workforce Rebuild
Interest Form open through March 13, 2026
Los Angeles, CA – The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board (LACWDB) today announced the launch of a new, time-limited Targeted Training Provider Pilot to rapidly expand workforce training capacity in response to the January 2025 windstorms and wildfires. Through this initiative, the County is seeking qualified training institutions to deliver high-quality, cohort-based or individual skills training starting between March and June 2026 to meet urgent workforce needs across construction, infrastructure, and other high-demand sectors critical to the region’s recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), local workforce boards may work with training providers outside the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) when justified by urgent local need. This pilot leverages that authority to rapidly expand training capacity for essential occupations needed to rebuild homes, infrastructure, and community assets across the County.
“As we move from disaster response to long-term recovery, we have an opportunity to rebuild stronger and more equitably than before,” said Kelly LoBianco, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity. “This pilot ensures that our rebuilding efforts create career pathways for residents, aligning training with industry demand, expanding access to high-road jobs, and strengthening the economic resilience of communities most impacted by the wildfires.”
“We are mobilizing every tool available to accelerate recovery and ensure residents have access to quality training and good jobs,” said Cheren Kochen, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board. “This pilot allows us to bring new partners into the system quickly, expand training capacity, and meet the scale of workforce demand created by the wildfires.”
The County invites interest from:
- Community colleges
- Adult and secondary schools
- Registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, including Multicraft Core Curriculum (MC3) programs
Providers Must:
- Maintain a physical location within Los Angeles County
- Submit for training programs not currently listed on the ETPL
- Demonstrate capacity to launch training between March and June 2026
Construction and infrastructure programs will be prioritized due to the scale of rebuilding required over the next five years. Training submissions that meet baseline requirements will be added to a conditional list of eligible providers. The County intends to select up to ten providers to maximize the number of training slots available for construction trades and other relevant occupations between March and June 2026.
Training providers can submit interest through the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board Training Provider Interest Form by visiting bit.ly/WDBTPApp.
Questions may be directed to wdb@opportunity.lacounty.gov.
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About DEO: The LA County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has a vision for a more equitable economy with thriving communities, inclusive and sustainable growth, and opportunity and mobility for all. The department, with its America’s Job Centers of California, Office of Small Business, and hundreds of programs and partners, creates quality jobs, helps small businesses and high-road employers start and grow, and builds vibrant communities and spaces. Stay connected with DEO! Follow @EconOppLA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, subscribe to our newsletter, or visit opportunity.lacounty.gov to learn about DEO services.