The Employment Training Panel on Dec. 12 approved a slate of 53 training proposals and two funding amendments totaling about $15.85 million, panel staff said, directing funds to employers, community colleges and nonprofit workforce intermediaries across California.

Panel chair Rebecca Bettencourt opened the meeting at 9:32 a.m. and staff outlined the funding picture: if all scheduled proposals were approved, ETP staff projected the panel would fund $15,852,708 and support training for roughly 54,541 workers statewide. "We have 53 proposals submitted for review," Executive Director Jessica Grimes said, describing the slate as a mix of repeat and new contractors with 43% of projects in manufacturing and 19% from high‑unemployment areas.

Why it matters: the panel’s grants pay training wages, support employer‑led upskilling and fund new apprenticeship and multiple‑employer projects that aim to move workers into higher‑paying, stable jobs. Panel members repeatedly pressed applicants on two themes: prior contract performance and recordkeeping practices, and whether proposed trainings would translate into wage progression and retention.

What the panel approved: motions on individual contracts were moved and adopted across the meeting. Examples include:
- 10x Genomics Inc. (Contract ET26‑0194): approved for $97,440 to train 232 workers in Alameda County. Company representatives told the panel recent reductions in academic purchase orders and tariffs contributed to a 14% turnover rate but said expanded HR capacity and process changes will improve outcomes.
- Alliance Environmental Holdings LLC: approved for $432,600 to train ~515 workers across eight counties; staff clarified a 13% administrative subcontractor fee for one site, and Alliance said it has added recordkeeping capacity following audit findings.
- Aspen Neuroscience Inc. (ET26‑0188): approved for $190,400 to train 100 workers as the company scales manufacturing for a clinical‑stage therapy.
- Large community college and MECS awards: Chaffey College, College of the Sequoias, El Camino and San Bernardino CCDs were among higher‑dollar MECS and college projects approved, collectively representing the program’s investment in regionally scaled training and workplace literacy.

Panel direction and conditions: several approvals noted conditions or clarifications rather than substantive denials. Panel members asked applicants to coordinate alterna tive recordkeeping (DocuSign/Excel/LMS) with ETP staff, to provide clearer wage progression pathways where entry wages were low, and to document how out‑of‑state vendors would be used versus local providers.

Notable program and policy updates: CIO Tara Armstrong said the CaliForce system will now automatically save proposals and generate export documents; new application language will keep draft applications active for 90 days and require reapplication under new funding years. Staff noted delegation orders (small requests capped at $75,000) totaling $474,460 were included in the meeting’s totals.

Amendments: the panel approved two amendments moving funds from out‑of‑state competition categories into higher‑wage set funding, allowing employers in North Orange County (Fullerton Chamber) and Chino Valley to be funded at higher post‑retention wages.

Public comment and next steps: there were no substantive public comments on items not on the agenda. The panel adjourned at 12:35 p.m.; staff will work with awardees on contract setup and reporting requirements before projects begin.

Votes at a glance: The panel approved the slate presented by staff; agenda presenters, motions and roll‑call votes showed unanimous panel support on the items called during the morning session. Individual contract approvals were recorded on the transcript and will be posted in ETP’s meeting minutes and contract database when final paperwork is complete.

Quote: "If all the proposals scheduled for today's panel meeting are approved, the panel will fund 53 projects for a total of $15,852,708," Jana Lazarevic said while presenting funding and pipeline metrics.

What to watch next: look for contract documents posted by ETP staff and for the Seed 3 social‑entrepreneur initiative staff said will launch in early 2026.