During a visit Friday to Pasadena City College, Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted workforce training aimed at preparing skilled trade workers to help speed up wildfire recovery.
Newsom visited Construction Trades Lab, which provides training for jobs such as construction and welding, according to the governor’s office. The program is supported by a $2.8 million philanthropic investment through the LA Rises initiative.
“Wildfires have changed the scale of what this region needs, not just in homes, but in people with the skills to rebuild them,” Newsom said in a statement.
“A career in skilled trades can open doors and help boost incomes,” he added. “I am grateful for Pasadena City College and all of the community colleges across the state that are connecting Californians with new skills and a stronger future.”
The program is part of the expansion of apprenticeship and earn-and-learn opportunities statewide, particularly for workers who may not seek a traditional college degree, officials said.
The state has created over 674,000 opportunities since 2019 when Newsom was first elected, including nearly 245,000 registered apprenticeships. That surpassed his goal of 500,000 apprenticeships by 2029, according to the governor’s office.
State labor officials said the PCC lab and similar programs offer hands-on training, industry-recognized skills and a direct pathway to employment.
“This model builds on the Governor’s Master Plan on Career Education, aligning education and industry so students can step into careers with both confidence and a paycheck,” Stewart Knox, secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, said in a statement.
PCC President José A. Gómez said the program plays a key role in rebuilding communities affected by disaster while creating long-term career opportunities for students.
He added that Newsom’s visit brought “leadership and vision into action, where education and recovery meet, and where the next generation of skilled workers is preparing to rebuild and renew our communities.”
The visit also highlighted additional state spending on workforce development, including $13.2 million in subsidies for youth apprenticeship programs and nearly $260 million aimed at expanding training, creating jobs and addressing labor shortages in multiple industries, officials said.
The Eaton Fire burned more than 14,000 acres throughout Altadena and nearby communities in January 2025, killing 19 people and destroying or damaging more than 10,000 homes and businesses.