Workforce Development

Building California's trade workforce

Strong contractors need strong crews. Trade Ally Exchange connects contractors, trade students, and training partners to grow a skilled, ready workforce.

A program of
The Ortiz Group

Hiring from trade schools

Hire your next crew member before they graduate.

TAE connects contractors with trade-school and pre-apprenticeship programs across California. Tell us you're hiring and we'll bring students, instructors and workforce partners to the table at your next gathering.

I'm a contractor who's hiring I'm a student or trade school

Workforce programs

Pre-apprenticeship, trade school & training partners

Central Valley programs that prepare people for construction and energy careers — and where contractors can find trained, job-ready hires.

Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (EOC) website preview

fresnoeoc.org

Featured

Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (EOC)

Valley Apprenticeship Connections (VAC) — Construction Pre-Apprenticeship

An intensive pre-apprenticeship training program that prepares individuals for the construction industry: introductions to union trades, Associated Builders and Contractors, soft-skill attainment, construction math, daily physical education, conflict-resolution training and random drug testing. Graduates can qualify for financial assistance toward apprenticeship induction fees and may meet local targeted-hiring requirements for contractors on projects like High Speed Rail.

Who it's for: Adults 18+ seeking to enter the construction industry, including people facing barriers such as homelessness or job displacement
Length: 12 weeks · M–F, 7am–3pm

Visit program ApprenticeshipTrade SchoolHiring

valleybuild.net

Featured

ValleyBUILD

MC3 Program Apprenticeship & NOW Program

A pre-apprenticeship program using the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) covering workplace safety, tool use, blueprint reading, construction math, labor history and employability skills. It exposes participants to roughly 12 different building and construction trades and connects them to union apprenticeship programs. The NOW Program is a companion all-female cohort that encourages women into construction by addressing discrimination, child care and transportation barriers, with a stipend for living, transportation and child-care expenses during training.

Who it's for: Young people and transitioning adults exploring careers in registered construction apprenticeships; NOW Program targets women and non-binary individuals
Length: MC3: ~10 weeks (some cohorts 6–7 weeks); NOW Program: two months

Visit program ApprenticeshipWomen in ConstructionHiring

proteusinc.org

Proteus, Inc. — William M. Maguy School of Education

Sustainable Energy Efficiency Development (SEED)

Training in HVAC fundamentals, electrical work and weatherization, with hands-on practice in a mock house lab plus career counseling and job-placement support.

Who it's for: Adults seeking career training, farm-working families and diverse participants across Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties
Length: 8 weeks (280 hours) · M–F, 7:30am–3pm

Visit program Trade SchoolHiring

cos.edu

College of the Sequoias

Career Technical Education (CTE)

Certificates and associate degrees that let students move directly into the workforce or transfer to a four-year institution. Programs span multiple industry sectors across all three COS campuses.

Who it's for: Community college students and adult learners pursuing career-focused training or transfer pathways
Length: Varies by program — short-term certificates to multi-semester associate degrees

Visit program Trade SchoolHiring

sjvc.edu

San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC)

Trade and Industrial Programs

Career-focused, hands-on training in Electrical Technology, HVAC-R (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) and Maintenance Technician, emphasizing real-world, industry-relevant skills. Electrical Technology graduates are eligible for the California General Electrician's Certification Exam; HVAC-R graduates can pursue OSHA 10-Hour Construction and EPA 608 certification.

Who it's for: Adults seeking entry-level or advancing careers in skilled trades; no prior experience required for most programs
Length: Certificate in as few as 10 months; Associate of Science in as few as 14 months; Trades Studies AS: 25 weeks for existing certificate holders

Visit program Trade SchoolHiring

More workforce partners

CA DIR / DAS

DIR Division of Apprenticeship Standards

Find or sponsor a registered apprenticeship program in California; employer resources and program directory.

Apprenticeship

FRWDB

Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board

Hiring incentives, on-the-job training reimbursement and special projects (including the CPP pre-apprenticeship pipeline) for Fresno-area employers.

HiringApprenticeship

Tulare County WIB

Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County

Employer services, training grants and the ValleyBuild Tulare County partnership.

HiringApprenticeship

All resources

I'm hiring

Post a hiring need. We'll route it to placement staff.

Tell us what crew you need and where. The Ortiz Group team reviews every request and connects you with placement staff at the pre-apprenticeship and trade-school programs above — Fresno EOC, ValleyBUILD, Proteus, COS, SJVC and more.

Members post hiring needs for free

Member login Join TAE

Highlight

Women in Construction

Women make up a growing share of California's trades, and TAE is committed to opening doors — spotlighting women-led contracting businesses, connecting members with mentorship, and listing programs that recruit, train and advance women in construction and the clean-energy trades.

Join the network

CA DIR / DAS Start here

DIR Women in Apprenticeship

Resources, grants (ERiCA) and initiatives to recruit and retain women in California's construction apprenticeships.

Women in ConstructionApprenticeship

Tradeswomen, Inc.

California nonprofit recruiting, training and supporting women in the skilled construction trades.

Women in Construction

NAWIC

NAWIC — National Association of Women in Construction

Professional association with California chapters offering networking, mentoring and education for women in construction.

Women in Construction

Programs & pathways

Apprenticeship Pathways

Connect trade students and new workers with contractors through pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs.

Certifications

Guidance on industry-recognized credentials — HVAC, electrical, energy auditing, and building performance.

Safety & Technical Training

Practical workshops on job-site safety, new codes, and emerging technologies delivered at quarterly gatherings.

Mentorship

Experienced contractors and industry partners mentoring the next generation of skilled tradespeople.

How it works

01Register as a TAE member
02Attend a quarterly gathering or local hub meeting
03Get matched with training & partner resources
04Grow your crew and your business