Regional CA

Regional California Implementation logo

“Regionalism is a place for organizing resources, effective approaches, systems, and leadership to achieve scale and impact from existing workforce programs. The end-game is not regionalism for its own sake; it’s to get more Californians into good jobs, with a focus on those traditionally left out of economic prosperity.”

– Tim Rainey, Executive Director,
California Workforce Development Board

Map of California Showing the 15 Labor RegionsThe objective of regionalism is to enhance partnerships, create collaboration among multiple workforce systems, improve resources, and develop effective and innovative approaches by bringing key workforce leaders together. The focus is to strategically scale successes and to generate impact throughout our workforce system that will enrich working conditions and provide livable wages throughout our state. The exact manner in which these goals are achieved  varies from region to region, due to the uniqueness of each Regional Planning Unit (RPU). To support the development of strong regions, the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) invests in regional capacity building through professional development, training, promoting regional advocacy, and providing regional technical assistance.

The RPUs are tasked with developing regional partnerships and plans to improve equity, job quality, and economic mobility and to promote a high road economy by focusing on the following regional indicators:

  • INDICATOR A – INDUSTRY DRIVEN TRAINING SOLUTIONS: Region has a process to communicate industry workforce needs to supply-side partners.
  • INDICATOR B – EQUITY AND JOB QUALITY: Region has policies supporting equity and strives to improve job quality
  • INDICATOR C – SERVICES TO TARGET POPULATION: Region has shared target populations of emphasis
  • INDICATOR D – PARTNERSHIPS AND SHARED RESOURCES: Region deploys shared/pooled resources to provide services, training, and education to meet target population needs

In the next iteration of moving the needle on regional work, CWDB is supporting regions in expanding and deepening their regional efforts by investing in partnership building and cross-system planning through the Regional Equity and Recovery Partnership (RERP) grant. The RPUs, in partnership with the 8 Regional Consortia representing California’s 10 Community College regions, will build upon existing regional and industry planning efforts by incorporating the elements of CA’s High Road vision to identify and build pathways to quality jobs and serve the most disadvantaged communities in the region.

For more information on regionalism, be sure to read:

Regional Resources

Regional Staff Roles & Responsibilities

Regional Organizers
Regional Organizers (ROs) positions are funded by the CWDB and the ROs are hired by the Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs) in each RPU. The RO’s are tasked to support ongoing efforts to enhance collaboration of regional workforce leaders and implement the Regional Plans. They are also responsible for assisting the LWDB Directors to develop and maintain regional communication and governance structures, to support industry sector partnerships, and coordinate with other initiatives to assist with accomplishing regional goals.

Regional Organizer Scope of Work (SOW)

Regional Training Coordinators
Regional Training Coordinators (RTCs) positions are charged with ensuring that workforce staff and regional workforce partners receive training and professional development opportunities to ensure regional plan goals are fulfilled. RTCs also provide the necessary oversight and coordination of all regionally based professional development opportunities for staff and partners within the RPU.

Regional Training Coordinators Scope of Work

Regional Plan Implementation (RPI)

The Regional Plan Implementation grants allowed RPUs to continue efforts in actualizing the goals of the Regional Plans and policy objectives of the State Plan. Through this opportunity, RPUs have the ability to implement regional initiatives that build upon, scale or expand on high road strategies that support equity, innovation, regional partnership investment, and professional development.
Follow the course of our regional work by reviewing each RPU’s project since its inception.

Regional Equity and Recovery Partnerships (RERP)

Regional Equity and Recovery Partnerships (RERP) represents an acceleration and deepening of the existing Regional Plan Implementation efforts and will support and invest in partnerships attempting to add high road approaches to existing sector strategies and career pathway programs. RERP Projects will leverage and integrate community college priorities, including but not limited to industry-valued credentials, academic support, credit for prior learning, and work-based learning, with workforce development priorities of economic recovery, racial justice, and equity, and digital access and literacy.
 
Each RPU’s RERP project can be found below;

  • RERP Project Summaries
  • RERP Partnership List

RERP Grant Administration and Data Guide
 
*Access RERP grant program, solicitation, and funding information here.

Technical Assistance Providers

The contracted Regional Technical Assistance providers will assist the CWDB to provide ongoing high-level technical in an effort to meet the needs of the RTCs and ROs throughout the state. The goal of the technical assistance providers is to help the RPUs address challenges, barriers, break down silos, address administrative inefficiencies, and/or implementation efforts to fulfill efforts to accomplish goals as outlined in the RPUs Regional Plan.

Evaluators

The evaluation is designed as a formative evaluation designed to help CWDB evaluate regional plan implementation efforts, explore the lessons learned, provide real-time recommendations to address ongoing issues impacting policy direction, regional coordination, service delivery and better understand the alignment between the regional plan implementation efforts and the vision outlined in California’s Strategic Workforce Plan.

Regional & Local Resources

Additional Resources

CWDB, EDD, LWDA & FOW, WIOA & DOL Reference Materials/Links

This tab will provide regions access to CWDB, EDD, LWDA/FOW, WIOA/DOL most commonly used or sought after resources/tools that the region may find helpful.

Labor Market / Data Systems & Resources

This tab will provide links, tools, and resources regions may find beneficial to reference or utilize when interested in Labor Market information throughout their region.

Workforce Partners Information/Links

This tab will provide links, tools, and resources regions may find beneficial to reference or utilize when interested in engaging other workforce partners.

Education Partners

Race and Equity

This tab will provide regions information, trainings, resources, and tools that may be helpful when further implementing or evaluating current Race, Equity, and Diversity efforts. For procured trainings available on the California Workforce Association California Training Initiative list, be sure to reference the Regional Training Resources & Commonly Used Websites tab. Additionally, training topics are available in the Employment Development Department Training Catalog located in the CWDB, EDD, LWDA & FOW, WIOA & DOL Reference Materials/Links.

Disability Access Trainings, Resources, and Tools

Digital Inclusion, Digital Literacy

This tab will provide links, tools, and resources regions may find beneficial to reference or utilize when addressing Digital Inclusion, Digital Literacy throughout their region.

Publications

This publications tab has been created to provide and highlight some publications you may find helpful as you further implement regional strategies in your region.

Visit the website to request The Street Guide To Constructive Possession – How Not to Get Arrested for Other People’s Illegal Stuff

California Workforce Development Board’s Prison to Employment & CDCR’s Presentation on ARCAID on YouTube.
(Please allow some time to process from a live stream to a regular video)
Email inquiries can be sent to: reentry@cwdb.ca.gov