West Hills College Disrict working hard to deliver homegrown workforce to Valley employers

Three approved apprenticeships will train workers in a variety of occupations including human resources analysts for the City of Coalinga and farm equipment mechanics for the Fresno Equipment Company located in Five Points.

Firebaugh’s Red Rooster Company will offer apprenticeships in careers related to agriculture sales and marketing, food safety/science, plant maintenance, human resources, and plant management.

Westside Works partners with local employers to develop registered apprenticeships and deliver a qualified, homegrown workforce to Westside Fresno and Kings County businesses and other organizations.

“Our vision is to increase upward mobility for entry-level and low-skilled workers in the communities we serve,” said Corinna Pereira, WHCCD Workplace Learning Liaison. “The apparent shortage of skilled workers in the region sometimes forces businesses to poach journey-level workers from their competitors or to recruit and relocate high-cost, skilled employees from out of the area. Westside Works helps to close the local workforce gap and gives hope to individuals who lack the training and experience to secure these middle-skilled jobs and careers.”

As a result of state approval by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, apprentices will be able to earn industry credentials, which Pereira said are critical for job seekers and employers alike. West Hills College Lemoore, West Hills College Coalinga, and North District Center Firebaugh will also deliver tuition-free classroom or online instruction for workers to receive a blended learning experience during their apprenticeship.

“Apprenticeship showcases how many hours of experience one has, confirming both education and aptitude in a particular trade or occupation,” Pereira said. “A job applicant or incumbent worker who has obtained a state-issued journey-person card possesses industry-recognized evidence of having mastered the skills of their profession.”

Westside Works delivers support for employers aspiring to transform the local communities in which they operate.  Its mission is to foster economic and community development by encouraging career advancement and living-wage attainment opportunities for a variety of apprentices in urban and rural communities.

West Hills Community College District’s colleges offer low-cost or free, coordinated apprentice instruction to business and industry partners utilizing innovative, registered apprenticeship programs to tackle a critical skilled labor shortage.

Contact Corinna Pereira at corinnapereira@whccd.edu or 559-934-2168 for more information or visit https://www.westhillscollege.com/employers/westside-works/