$500,000 to Support Equity in Employment for English Language Learners in North Tulare County

English Language Learners – Access to Careers and Employment (ELL-ACE) provides on-the-job training, vocational training, and job placement in industrial jobs for individuals facing barriers to work.

The Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County (WIB) was one of 19 organizations to receive funds from the California Employment Development Department (EDD) for the Equity and Special Population grant solicitation. This initiative aims to support innovative projects that accelerate equity in employment for populations facing barriers to employment. The WIB was awarded $500,000 to implement the English Language Learners-Access to Careers and Employment (ELL-ACE) project in Dinuba and the surrounding unincorporated communities of Northern Tulare County.

ELL-ACE was designed to create effective linkages between English Language Learners (ELLs) and businesses involved in advanced manufacturing, transportation, and logistics. The project intends to provide seamless access to supportive services, education, and tuition for occupational skills training leading to long-term quality jobs for ELLs. For this project, a quality job provides a self-sufficient wage of $22.35 an hour for a family of three with one income in Tulare County with health benefits, advancement opportunities, stability, and a safe working environment.

“The Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County is committed to helping job seekers find long-term quality jobs so that they and their families can thrive in our community. This project’s success depends upon many partners including workforce, education, community-based organizations, and industry partners collaborating to provide seamless access to supportive services, education, and tuition assistance for occupational skills training and credentials that lead to long-term quality jobs,” stated Adam Peck, Executive Direct of the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County.

ELL-ACE aims to serve 120 English Language Learners over two years. Individuals participating in this project will be provided opportunities to participate in integrated educational training, including vocational training for industrial jobs and adult education and literacy (ESL) concurrently. The vocational training programs may lead to a credential or certificate in truck driving, industrial maintenance, electrical, OSHA, forklift operations, etc. Additionally, individuals may also participate in work-based learning through partnerships with local businesses committed to increasing equity for English Language Learners within their workforce.

Collaborative partnership is a key aspect of this project, and partner organizations have formed the ELL North County Resource Team to support individuals who participate in this project. The ELL North County Resource Team comprises workforce development, industry and education partners including, the Dinuba Employment Connection, WIB, CSET, Proteus, Tulare/Kern/Inyo/Mono Custer of the Employment Development Department (EDD), Visalia Ault School, and Sequoias Adult Education Consortium (SAEC), Ruiz Foods and the South Valley Industrial Collaborative (SVIC).

This project is funded by the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County, an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. English Language Learners-Access to Careers and Employment is substantially funded by federal funding; for more information, go to: www.tularewib.org/disclosures.