AGC Construction Education Foundation Awarded $2.5 Million Grant to Expand Apprenticeship Access

The Associated General Contractors of California’s Construction Education Foundation (AGC CEF) has been awarded a $2.5 million Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship (ERiCA) Round 2 grant by the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

The award is part of a statewide $26 million investment to increase access to construction careers through apprenticeships for women and other underrepresented Californians. AGC CEF will carry out its grant-funded programs in partnership with the Northern California Laborers Training & Retraining Center and the Southern California Laborers Training School. This effort builds on the success of its Round 1 grant, which concluded in June 2025.

The funding will advance AGC CEF’s Build California initiative in three areas:

• Recruitment – Outreach efforts will expand through schools, community organizations, digital campaigns, and in-person events. The goal is to reach 20,000 Californians and connect hundreds each year with apprenticeship opportunities.
• Childcare Support – More than $1.2 million will be allocated for childcare stipends to help remove caregiving barriers for pre-apprentices and apprentices. Wraparound services such as case management, referrals, and coordination with training providers will also be available.
• Workplace Culture – The grant will fund programs to foster inclusive jobsite environments. This includes bystander intervention training provided by Alteristic Inc. and specialized training for apprentices on mental health awareness, mentoring, stress management and communication skills through the Laborers Training Centers.

“Our partnership with the Laborers Training Centers is the backbone of this work,” said Peter Tateishi, chief executive officer of AGC of California. “By aligning Build California’s outreach with the Laborers’ exemplary training infrastructure, we can welcome far more women and underrepresented Californians into apprenticeships and make sure they thrive once they’re on the job.”

“We’re incredibly grateful to be selected for this ERiCA Round 2 funding, which will deepen our existing collaboration with the Laborers, and together we will lead the industry toward real, lasting change,” said Erin Volk, senior vice president of workforce & community development at AGC of California and executive director of the AGC Construction Education Foundation.

Daniel R. Dumke, chair of the AGC Construction Education Foundation and senior director at Shawmut Design and Construction, added: “When a job seeker, especially a mom, can count on childcare support and clear navigation into apprenticeship, everything shifts. Families gain stability, contractors gain dedicated talent and communities see lasting economic mobility.”