Workforce Development Initiative

Workforce Development Initiative is sponsored by Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF). The Future is Working, OCCF's Workforce Development Initiative, focuses on connecting educational institutions and workforce development programs to in-demand, middle-skills jobs within targeted sectors in Orange County via formalized pipelines.

Open Accessibility Options Open the Accessible Link Tree Hit enter to search or ESC to close * Environmental Stewardship * Community Power Building * Research Local Nonprofits * Advisor Toolkit / Resources * Research Local Nonprofits * Nonprofit Meet & Greets * Frequently Asked Questions Fund TypeCollaborative Funds # The Future is Working: OC Workforce Development Initiative The Future is Working, OCCF’s Workforce Development Initiative, focuses on connecting educational institutions and workforce development programs to in-demand, middle-skills jobs within targeted sectors in Orange County via formalized pipelines.

Key partnerships are developed between community colleges, nonprofit organizations, and local employers working collaboratively to identify, support, and ultimately place candidates in middle-skills jobs.

Our focus on middle-skills jobs was born out of the data reflected in the 2019 OC Community Indicators Report, a snapshot of Orange County trends and demographics released annually by the OCBC, which highlighted the increase in vacant middle-skills jobs, upwards of 17,000 per year, over the next ten years – particularly in the healthcare, advanced manufacturing and IT sectors.

> Since 2019, the Workforce Development Initiative has **awarded nearly $2.

8 million to 26 projects** including the Hornet Drone Pilot Apprenticeship Program at Fullerton College, a work-based learning opportunity in Healthcare and IT in partnership with Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), a Bus Operator Training/Talent Acquisition program in partnership with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), and a Skills Gap Training/Talent Acquisition program developing with guidance from Cox Communications.

All programs are making excellent progress and continue to provide rich learning opportunities for the initiative. Middle-skills jobs are defined as jobs that require less than a four-year degree but some specialized training and/or certifications, often only 2-year programs, a group of employment opportunities that have become all the more important as youth begin to reconsider the value of a higher education in a post-pandemic world.

The target populations include three key demographics of traditionally low-income job seekers that have the potential for immediate positive impact through a middle skills job: Graduating high school seniors enrolling in community college, disconnected youth seeking additional training to reintegrate into the workforce, and underemployed young adults seeking to advance their career potential. Click Here to Donate Now! * [](https://www.

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