Los Angeles County announced Tuesday it is investing $1.27 million to expand a manufacturing and automation training program for residents seeking careers in the aerospace, defense and advanced manufacturing industries.
The funding will allow Rio Hondo College to enroll 48 participants across two cohorts in its Advanced Manufacturing & Automation Accelerated Training Program, including community members who were waitlisted following an earlier round of the program, according to the county.
“Los Angeles County’s aerospace and manufacturing sectors have a long history of leading the world, and this partnership represents an investment in more of that for the future,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said. “We have some of the best workers and brightest minds in the nation right here, and with this investment we’re betting on that hometown talent and on some of the industries that make our economy great.”
Through the program, participants will receive college-level technical instruction, industry-recognized credentials, career counseling, supportive services, employer engagement and job-placement assistance, officials said.
Training includes mechanical and electrical systems, programmable logic controllers and computer-aided design.
Participants can also earn credentials through the National Coalition of Certification Centers and Festo Fundamentals certification framework, as well as pursue the Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate examination.
The program includes case management, transportation assistance, employment preparation and referrals for child care, housing and other supportive services, according to county officials.
An earlier investment in the program supported 40 participants, 29 of whom have completed the training and 12 of whom have connected with jobs, officials said.
“Through the HRTP model, we are connecting residents to the education and the resources they need to access quality careers while helping businesses develop the talent they need to grow and compete,” Kelly LoBianco, director of the county Department of Economic Opportunity, said.
Of the $1.269 million investment, $400,000 will be dedicated to training stipends intended to reduce financial barriers for participants, including transportation and living expenses.
The program is funded through the California Workforce Development Board’s Regional Equity and Recovery Partnerships Initiative and is part of the county’s High Road Training Partnership Fund.
County officials said Los Angeles County’s aerospace product and parts manufacturing sector employed about 45,200 workers as of December 2024, an increase of 3.4% over five years and 9.2% over the previous decade.