What you need to know: California is funding 51 projects across the state to boost apprenticeships for opportunity youth ages 16-24, including young parents, former foster youth, people with disabilities, and young people who face educational achievement gaps or attend schools in communities struggling with high poverty.
July 18, 2024 - SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced that the Department of Industrial Relations awarded $31 million in California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship (COYA) grants to 51 projects across the state to increase pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships in healthcare, education, advanced manufacturing, information technology, public sector, transportation and more.
“California is committed to helping disadvantaged youth prepare for high-quality careers. Through our nation-leading career education efforts, we’re boosting apprenticeships throughout the state and across industries to help young people launch into the right career for them.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
What this means
These apprenticeships will help break career barriers for opportunity youth across California, helping them launch into their future careers. Opportunity youth include those aged 16-24, including young parents, former foster youth, people with disabilities, and young people who face educational achievement gaps, attend schools in communities struggling with high poverty, or are fully disconnected from the education system. COYA will also ensure employers are supported and encouraged to hire young workers based on their talent and skills.
The State is working to ensure all Californians have the freedom to succeed through investments like this that help young people learn skills to obtain high-quality, fulfilling careers.
This program is in alignment with the Governor’s Master Plan for Career Education, which will include proposals to align and simplify the TK-12, university, and workforce systems in California to support greater access to education and jobs for all Californians.
Learn more about the COYA grants here
Source: Office of the Governor
