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CPA Funded Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles Program Prepares Graduates for Construction Trade Apprenticeships

Workforce Development

California’s accelerating shift toward renewable energy is driving a rising need for trained professionals, such as contractors, electricians and technicians, who can support the buildout and upkeep of clean energy systems.  

In response, CPA has committed more than $2.6 million to workforce development efforts in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. 

The Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles (WINTER) program, which has received $558,000 in funding from CPA to advance training and work experience to low-income women and women of color, recently celebrated the first of four graduating cohorts in 2026. 

All of the 21 graduates have secured apprenticeships in construction trades following the conclusion of their coursework. 

WINTER provides women aged 18 to 45 with tuition-free apprenticeship readiness programs that utilize the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) to build foundational skills for a career in construction. WINTER’s pre-apprenticeship training program graduates include those who are gang-impacted, or recently out of foster care.  

In February 2025, the CPA Board of Directors approved stipends and supportive services for up to 240 women, in addition to funding an expansion of WINTER’s Commerce classroom space by 1,500 square feet. 

Stipends provide pay-as-you-learn opportunities for students to be able to focus on the MC3 program. Supportive services help students overcome numerous barriers, including access to childcare, housing, transportation assistance, union initiation fees, construction equipment and driver’s license fees. The expansion of classroom space enables WINTER to train up to 24 more students per year.  

Pre-apprenticeship courses through WINTER align with CPA’s goals of investing in training and resources that give workers the clean energy industry skills necessary to facilitate building and transportation electrification.  

CPA’s workforce development support has included partnering with a variety of local programs, including trainings through the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, Ventura and Los Angeles County Electrical Training Institutes and three MC3 programs located throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties.   

To learn more about CPA’s workforce development support, visit cleanpoweralliance.org/workforce.  


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