Employment Training Panel approves 16 contracts totaling roughly $7.1 million; one proposal tabled
Loading...
Summary
The Employment Training Panel on July 18 approved 16 training contracts — mostly single-employer and multi-employer proposals — totaling about $7.1 million, and tabled one multi-employer application after panelists requested staff refine its geographic scope and employer list.
The Employment Training Panel approved 16 training contracts during its July 18 meeting, funding roughly $7.1 million in workforce training across California and tabling one multi-employer proposal for further revision.
Panel members voted to approve awards to employers and training groups including Tigert and Son Inc. (dba Tigert Construction), Agilent Technologies, DrinkPak LLC, D & D Laser Screed, GBC Concrete & Masonry Construction, Hawthorne Machinery Co., Knowles Precision Devices (Integrated Microwave Corporation), La Quinta Resort & Club, KLA Corporation, Northrop Grumman Systems, Organic by Nature Inc., Teeter Inc., Central California Builders Exchange, the Turlock Chamber of Commerce, and the Industrial Council of the City of Commerce. One multi‑employer proposal from South Modesto Business United was tabled for staff to narrow its county coverage and employer list before returning to the panel.
Why it matters: ETP grants reimburse employer training costs and are used to upskill incumbent and new-hire workers in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, health care and clean energy. Panel approvals enable immediate award processing for funded contracts; one tabled item will return after staff and the applicant align the plan with the panel’s geographic and programmatic expectations.
Most approved contracts were presented by ETP staff and summarized briefly by applicant representatives at the meeting. Panelists asked targeted questions about project scope, turnover and monitoring. For DrinkPak LLC, the panel approved funding subject to a contractual “trigger” on workforce turnover: the company must keep turnover at 15% or lower in the 12 months preceding the contract end or face a 25% reduction in contract funding; staff will monitor quarterly and work with the employer to address issues before the trigger window.
Key details (selected projects): - Tigert and Son Inc., dba Tigert Construction (contract approved for $585,200) — training at multiple sites across California; proposal described training for construction craft, project engineers and supervisory staff. - Agilent Technologies Inc. (contract approved for $599,200) — technical and professional training at Folsom, Carpinteria and Santa Clara sites. - DrinkPak LLC (contract approved for $200,680 with a 15% turnover trigger and quarterly monitoring) — first ETP contract for the Santa Clarita beverage manufacturer; panel discussed past turnover and company changes tied to delayed out‑of‑state facility openings. - KLA Corporation (contract approved for $599,760) — workforce and immersive training at Milpitas HQ supporting semiconductor equipment work. - Industrial Council of the City of Commerce (contract approved for $849,852) — large multi‑employer contract for Los Angeles area employers; council reported strong prior performance under earlier ETP contracts.
One proposal withdrawn and one tabled: Home Express Delivery Service Inc. (dba Temco) withdrew and will attend a future meeting. South Modesto Business United’s application (originally asking for $416,067) was tabled so staff and the applicant can narrow the counties and employer list; the panel directed staff to return a revised proposal focused on Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties and aligned employer lists.
Panel process notes: Several applicants remarked on ETP’s role in connecting employers and training resources. Staff confirmed delegation orders (small awards under $75,000 processed by the director) were included in the packet; regional staff continue to support project development and monitoring.
Ending: Staff will finalize contract paperwork for the approved proposals and post award notices; the tabled South Modesto proposal will return after staff and the applicant submit a narrowed plan for the panel’s review.
