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Workforce board hears presentations on workers' compensation, maritime and construction training and the quarterly job market
Summary
Presenters at the Feb. 27 Humboldt County Workforce Development Board meeting briefed members on workers' compensation access, maritime and builders' training partnerships, business services and quarterly WIOA performance metrics. Staff announced promotions and a Caltrans partnership to subsidize CDL training for 17 students.
The Humboldt County Workforce Development Board on Feb. 27 received a series of program and staff updates focusing on training partnerships, access to workers' compensation services, business support and regional labor market metrics.
Elisabeth Gerstacker, a representative of the State Compensation Insurance Fund, presented on workers' compensation procedures: what workers should do after a workplace injury, local medical provider options in Humboldt County, the claim reporting process, barriers to accessing care and efforts to secure local providers. Board members did not take action on the presentation but heard details intended to improve local access and awareness.
Sal Vaca of the Working Waterfront Coalition described the coalition's partnerships among maritime employers, community organizations and labor unions and summarized training partnerships and reported success rates and skill gains for participants entering maritime trades. Jada Brotman presented for the Humboldt Builders Exchange, a nonprofit association that provides onsite and online plan rooms and workforce training for contractors; Brotman emphasized outreach to train the next generation of trades professionals in Humboldt County.
County Economic Development staff outlined business attraction and recruitment programs including the Headwaters Fund, the Samoa Peninsula Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District, lending and grant services, Work Experience (WEX) placements, layoff aversion and rapid response. Public commenter Sequoyah Hudson raised concerns about youth workforce training gaps and asked how youth are represented in program data. Duncan Rossum, Workforce Program Coordinator for the America's Job Center of California, reported on WIOA expenditure status and program outcomes such as employment rate, credential attainment and measurable skills gains; Rossum answered questions about performance metrics but members requested additional detail on youth program definitions for a future meeting.
Staff updates noted several personnel changes and upcoming events: Peggy Murphy was promoted to Economic Development Director and Logan Ashworth was promoted to Economic Development Coordinator; Vice Chair Shelley Nilsen and Murphy will attend Day at the Capitol in March; staff will attend a Department of Rehabilitation and AJCC convening and the NAWB Forum in March; HCWDB staff participated in TAD Grants partnership training. Staff also said the HCWDB will partner with Caltrans to subsidize training for 17 students to attend Jiffy Trucking School in Redding to earn Class A licenses.
Board members requested future agenda items including watershed restoration, consideration of an Amazon warehouse in McKinleyville and discussion of the impact of artificial intelligence on job availability.
