Long Beach residents impacted by the January 2025 Southern California wildfires are the focus of a recently announced employment and training initiative led by the Long Beach Department of Economic Development & Opportunity (EDO).
Through this initiative, chosen applicants will receive paid career opportunities and financial assistance for a fresh start in the workforce.
“Long Beach is proud to offer support and uplift those rebuilding their lives following the tragic wildfires that impacted Southern California earlier this year,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement. “This initiative is a powerful example of how Long Beach comes together in times of need. By providing impacted residents with paid work experience and access to valuable training, we are creating pathways to good jobs and ensuring that Long Beach continues to thrive as a resilient and inclusive city.”
Through this community initiative, 10 eligible participants will be selected for up to 300 hours of paid, hands-on work experience with local employers through EDO ’s Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN). Plus, LBWIN will provide a maximum of five people training scholarships of up to $7,500 each to earn industry-recognized credentials in fields like healthcare, information and advanced manufacturing that are seen as high-demand.
To learn more and apply for these opportunities, email EDO Career Center Manager Nakawa Shepherd at Nakawa.Shepherd@longbeach.gov or visit the LBWIN Adult Career Services Center (4811 Airport Plaza Dr., Ste. 120). Until all the initiative funding is spent, applications will remain open.
EDO is also on the lookout for Long Beach employers that are open to an on-the-job training participant joining their workforce. For more information, or to become a host employer, businesses may contact EDO Business Engagement Officer Courtney Chatterson at Courtney.Chatterson@longbeach.gov.
“This effort is about more than recovery, it’s about opportunity,” said EDO Director Bo Martinez in a public statement. “By connecting individuals impacted by the wildfires to meaningful work experiences and comprehensive training pathways, we are aiding workers with re-establishing stability while also strengthening Long Beach’s local talent pipeline.”
The Employment and Support Initiative for Residents Impacted by Southern California Wildfires is funded by a $130,000 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Dislocated Worker Additional Assistance grant. These funds are geared to assist job seekers in the labor market with access to employment, education, training and support services.
To learn more about workforce programs and services in Long Beach, job seekers and employers are advised to visit longbeach.gov/workforce.
