ETP panel approves roughly $6 million in training contracts; South Modesto MEC right‑sized to $300,000

The Employment Training Panel approved about $6,027,357 in proposals and several multi‑employer contracts at its Aug. 22 meeting, funding training for over a thousand workers statewide and approving one contract amendment that adds out‑of‑state vendors.

Panel Chair Rebecca Bettencourt opened the meeting and staff highlighted the broader budget and demand context. “The 2025 budget act chaptered last month included 7 and a half million for the social entrepreneurs for economic development or SEED funding,” Executive Director Jessica Grimes said. Laura Campbell, chief deputy director, summarized proposal totals: “If all proposals scheduled for today's panel meeting are approved, the panel will fund 15 projects for a total of $6,027,357.”

Panel members then heard presentations from single‑employer applicants, multiple‑employer contractors (MECs) and nonprofit applicants and voted on each proposal. Most votes were unanimous; roll‑call voting recorded panel members as voting "Aye" on the funded items. The meeting also recorded contractor withdrawals and one amendment seeking authorization for selected out‑of‑state trainers.

The panel approved awards to the following applicants (amounts reflect the motion presented and the roll‑call outcome recorded in the meeting minutes):

- Mechanical Analysis Repair Inc. (dba MarTech): $145,600 to train 52 workers. Motion adopted; roll‑call vote recorded all present as "Aye." (Contract funded.)

- Cisco Los Angeles Inc. (Contract ET26‑0131): $595,056 to train 483 workers at Los Angeles and Ventura sites. Motion adopted; roll‑call vote recorded all present as "Aye."

- Vinotech Wine Cellars (dba WhisperKOOL) (Contract ET26‑0121): $134,400 to train 96 workers in Stockton. Motion adopted; roll‑call vote recorded all present as "Aye."

- John Rennell Collection Inc.: $82,600 to train 59 workers in Carlsbad. Motion adopted; roll‑call vote recorded all present as "Aye."

- MBV California LLC (beverage co‑packer): $269,568 to train 702 workers at Sacramento, Anaheim and Chino locations. Motion adopted; roll‑call vote recorded all present as "Aye."

- California Manufacturers Technology Association (MEC) (Contract ET26‑0128): $849,779 to train 1,009 workers statewide at participating employers' worksites. Motion adopted; roll‑call vote recorded all present as "Aye." Staff noted a correction to a starting wage in the job table.

- South Modesto Business United, Inc. (MEC) (Contract E226‑0117): the panel approved a revised award of up to $300,000 after the applicant removed participating employers outside the region and staff agreed to work with the applicant to reconfigure the training plan to fit the revised funding cap. Motion adopted; roll‑call vote recorded all present as "Aye." Panel members said the smaller organization will receive staff support and the contract will be adjusted to maximize the chance of meeting performance goals.

- Kern County Community College District (Contract ET26‑0129): $839,346 to train approximately 800 workers across participating employer worksites. Motion adopted; roll‑call vote recorded all present as "Aye."

- Santa Clarita Community College District (Contract ET26‑0125): $849,089 to train approximately 850 workers across employer worksites. Motion adopted; roll‑call vote recorded all present as "Aye."

- Amendment: Dumont Printing, Inc. (Contract ET24‑0313), Panel Amendment No. 2: approved expansion to use three out‑of‑state vendors for industry‑specific training where in‑state vendors are not available. Motion adopted; roll‑call vote recorded all present as "Aye."

The panel also recorded withdrawals: Lancaster Hospital Corp. (dba Palmdale Regional Medical Center) and Trojan Battery Company LLC were both withdrawn from this meeting and slated to return at a later date; California Manufacturing Technology Consulting also withdrew. Delegation orders (three approved under director delegated authority) totaled $132,328 and were noted by staff as part of the meeting’s funding summary.

Panel members and applicants discussed curriculum details and employer readiness during presentations. For example, panel members requested South Modesto clarify curriculum items such as food‑safety (SafeServe) training for participating restaurants and staff described plans for weekly check‑ins and a three‑person implementation team to improve employer compliance and recordkeeping. Several applicants described prior ETP performance and internal promotion pipelines; WhisperKOOL and other repeat contractors cited prior contract outcomes and staff advancement examples.

Why this matters: staff reported 338 active applications in the pipeline with an estimated demand value of roughly $138,000,000 across single‑employer, small business, multiple‑employer and apprenticeship requests. The meeting’s approvals move another set of training funds into the field at a time when lawmakers and agencies are focusing on sector alignment and regional workforce needs.

The panel adjourned after a policy presentation (see separate article about the California Jobs First briefing) and public comment. The panel will meet again in September.