LA County Expands High Road Training Partnership in Aerospace with Community Colleges

Funded through the California Workforce Development Boards (CWDB) Regional Equity and Recovery Partnerships (RERP) Initiative, the program will enroll 48 participants across two training cohorts. Participants will receive college-level technical instruction, industry-recognized credentials, career counseling, supportive services, employer engagement, and job placement assistance. The program is delivered in partnership with Rio Hondo College, DEO’s Rio Hondo America’s Job Center of California (AJCC), and employer partners like LISI Aerospace, who offer paid work experiences and direct pathways to hire.

This builds on the initial investment with Rio Hondo College and the HRTP Fund in the last year to support 40 participants of which 29 have already completed and 12 connected to jobs. The program drew great public interest and applications from the first round in 2025-2026 and this investment allows the college to enroll waitlisted community members, starting this month.

“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. 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. I’m thankful to everyone who made this partnership possible,” said Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn.

“LA County has a longstanding Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing industry, and investing in a skilled local workforce is critical to supporting its continued growth,” said Kelly LoBianco, Director of DEO. “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.”

“Río Hondo College is proud to partner with the Department of Economic Opportunity and America’s Job Center of California to expand advanced manufacturing training and prepare residents for high-wage, in-demand careers,” said Superintendent/President Don Moya-Miller, Ph.D. “Together, we are strengthening Los Angeles County’s workforce and creating greater economic opportunity for the communities we serve.”

Aerospace and Defense and Advanced Manufacturing remain important sectors of the County’s economy. LA County’s aerospace product and parts manufacturing sector employed approximately 45,200 workers as of December 2024, representing a 3.4% increase over the previous five years and a 9.2% increase over the past decade. As employers adopt new technologies and experienced workers retire, the region needs a pipeline of workers with skills required to grow alongside the industrial systems.

Participants in this program will also have opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials through the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) and Festo Fundamentals certification framework, as well as the opportunity to pursue the Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate examination. These credentials validate competencies in mechanical systems, electrical systems, programmable logic controllers, and computer-aided design that are relevant to employers in the Aerospace and Defense, Advanced Manufacturing, and related industries.

Recognizing that the cost of participating in workforce training can itself be a barrier to economic mobility, the program pairs technical instruction with comprehensive participant supports. Participants will have access to case management through the Rio Hondo AJCC, career counseling and educational planning, transportation assistance, training stipends, employment preparation, referrals for childcare, housing and other supportive needs, and job placement assistance. The initiative dedicates $400,000 to participant training stipends to help reduce financial barriers, offset transportation and living expenses, improve retention, and enable participants to successfully complete the accelerated training program.

Since its launch in 2022, DEO has invested more than $39.7 million in HRTPs to support more than 3,000 participants across high-growth and opportunity sectors. DEO’s HRTP Fund and more than 27 programs to date are modeled after California’s nationally recognized framework that brings together employers, labor, educators, community-based organizations, and workers to design industry-informed training that leads to quality jobs, career advancement, and stronger regional economies. By centering worker voice, equity, and employer demand, HRTPs help address workforce shortages while creating sustainable pathways to economic mobility for Los Angeles County residents. DEO couples this model with flexible cash assistance for participants through the Worker Equity Fund as well as a community of practice and evaluation.

To learn more about this program and continued opportunities with the HRTP Fund for providers and participants, visit opportunity.lacounty.gov/hrtp.