The Employment Training Panel approved revised guidelines for its Respond pilot program after staff told members the agency is monitoring ongoing wildfire impacts in Southern California and expects proposals under the revised Respond program, staff said.

Executive Director Jessica Grimes briefed the panel on the agency’s monitoring of wildfire-affected areas. Staff’s initial analytics indicated “just under 17,000” potentially impacted trainees with an estimated affected contract value of “over $15,000,000,” and some 59 workplaces in the affected zip codes, Grimes reported. Staff also said the North Hollywood Regional Office and the agency’s data analytics unit had been doing outreach and analysis for rapid-response needs.

Why it matters: The Respond program is intended to give employers access to rapid employment and short-term training supports after natural disasters. The guideline revision clarifies the program’s scope and the definition of “natural disaster” used for eligibility.

Panel action: Laura Campbell presented the proposed guideline revisions, which the policy committee recommended. The panel moved to approve the revised Respond pilot guidelines; the roll-call vote carried and there were no public comments on the item.

Next steps: If funded, the revised Respond guidelines will be posted as a resource for eligible contractors, and regional offices can expect proposals from affected areas. Staff told the panel they anticipate receiving Respond proposals and will keep members updated on any formal requests.

Ending: Staff emphasized ongoing monitoring of the wildfire-affected regions and readiness to provide technical assistance and outreach to contractors and affected workplaces.