Tracy panel highlights industry-aligned training and youth pathways to local jobs

A panel at Tracy’s State of the City brought local workforce and innovation partners to the stage to explain how training programs link residents to industry jobs.

"So our goal is to connect job seekers and employers," said Patricia Birgene, executive director for the employment and economic development department with San Joaquin County WorkNet, describing WorkNet’s role in funding training and supporting both youth and existing employees.

Moderator Jorge Barrera, the city’s economic development manager, said the panel would focus on economic development, workforce development, youth initiatives and business support. Panelists described complementary approaches: Volt Institute provides industry-aligned, stackable credentials and cites a 94% placement rate for multi-week programs with an average starting wage of about $30 an hour, while Open Innovation Center focuses on new-collar skills (3D printing, virtual reality, game development) and countywide incubator programs for entrepreneurs.

"Many of our students come to Volt Institute without a background in manufacturing and they can earn validated skills over time," said Eric Neuwenfeld, executive director of the Volt Institute, who described hands-on cohorts (Volt on the Go) held in the community and ongoing industry partnerships used to validate curriculum. He gave an example of a participant who moved from a machine operator role into a robotics technician position and increased wages by about $10 an hour.

Birgene said WorkNet can reimburse employers for training costs — including on-the-job training that can cover up to 50% of wages during the training period — and stressed the need for employer participation to place youth and upskill local workers. Claire Botka, executive director of Open Innovation Center, described pitch competitions and an SJC incubator program that help entrepreneurs access mentorship and seed prizes; regional pitch-winner awards were described as $500 for top regional finalists with a countywide Delta College competition awarding $25,000 to the overall winner.

Panelists repeatedly emphasized partnerships, access to industry-grade tools, early exposure for youth, and "earn-as-you-learn" pathways as the combination likely to keep talent in San Joaquin County rather than driving to other labor markets. The moderator closed by encouraging businesses and education partners in the audience to engage with the city’s workforce initiatives and upcoming cohorts.

Information and registration for upcoming Volt cohorts is available through Volt Institute and local partners.