New partnership with Los Angeles Regional Consortium will help regional community college consortia establish apprenticeship models for their students

Sacramento, CA – August 30, 2023 – Today, the LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network (LAUNCH) is excited to announce a new partnership with the Los Angeles Regional Consortium (LARC), a consortium of 19 California community colleges focused on promoting career and technical education. Through the partnership, LAUNCH will support LARC in implementing registered apprenticeship programs, to connect more students with hands-on training, skill development, and career readiness efforts.

Founded in 2018, LAUNCH is an Apprenticeship Intermediary Program Sponsor through the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards, which allows colleges to leverage its registered network of programs and established standards to more quickly initiate apprenticeship programs. This model was first launched with the Inland Empire, where they supported the region in developing a unified apprenticeship strategy through technical assistance and the centralization of administrative processes. 

Since, LAUNCH has created over 20 skills-based training programs for several industry sectors, including manufacturing, IT and cybersecurity, automotive, early childhood education, and healthcare, and registered almost 800 apprentices who are working to receive their state certificate recognizing them as a journey-level worker in the occupation of their choice.

Earlier this year, 11 community colleges throughout Los Angeles County competitively received California Apprenticeship Initiative planning and implementation grants to advance the local workforce in manufacturing, healthcare, cybersecurity, and other industries. Today’s announcement will accelerate the development of those apprenticeship programs in Los Angeles with LAUNCH’s expertise and support. 

“LAUNCH is excited to partner with LARC to support the growth of new and innovative apprenticeship programs within the community college system in Los Angeles County,” said Charles Henkels, Executive Director of LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network. “This partnership will leverage existing best practices and help identify broader support for members of the community looking to enter the workforce and receive a tuition-free education while they earn a salary.” 

This new partnership with LARC represents the group’s first act of statewide expansion. LAUNCH will help the 19 Los Angeles area community colleges to establish funding strategies and implement and sustain apprenticeship programs to ultimately connect more Californians with career opportunities and the skills needed to meet the demands of the modern workplace.

“Los Angeles community colleges are building bridges for residents into high-growth industries, like the entertainment and creative economy, advanced manufacturing, and renewable energy,” added Dr. Narineh Makijan, Regional Chair/Assistant Vice President, Los Angeles Regional Consortium, hosted by Pasadena City College. “By partnering with LAUNCH, our colleges will have access to new and innovative apprenticeship solutions that will benefit our employers, residents, and the Los Angeles economy, as a whole.”

LAUNCH apprenticeship programs combine supervised on-the-job training with technical instruction and education, provided by California community colleges, to reinforce skills and accelerate professional development. By bridging the gap between employers, students, educators, and industry, LAUNCH helps regions get apprenticeship programs off the ground more quickly and make more efficient use of public apprenticeship funding. 

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About LAUNCH

The LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network was originally formed in 2018 by the Inland Empire Desert Region College Consortium. By integrating apprenticeship into the work of regional community colleges, K-12 districts, and Workforce Development Boards, LAUNCH acts as an intermediary and education provider for businesses adopting the apprenticeship model. LAUNCH is currently fiscally sponsored by the Foundation for California Community Colleges, the nonprofit auxiliary to the largest system of higher education in the nation. To learn more about how LAUNCH benefits students and talent-shortages for regional employers, visit our website. 

About LARC

The Los Angeles Regional Consortium (LARC) consists of 19 community colleges in Los Angeles County. It serves to coordinate, collaborate, organize, and facilitate interaction in the region to ensure workforce training is provided to all in a way that is accessible, efficient, responsive, data-driven and improves outcomes. Supported by the State Chancellor’s Office, and hosted at Pasadena City College, LARC’s primary objective is to bridge the gap between workforce preparedness and employer’s needs in the LA region.  For more information, visit https://losangelesrc.org.