The portfolio of programs established through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund not only reduce GHG emissions, but also support an equitable economic transition through dedicated workforce development and training programs, establishing partnerships with training programs and academic institutions, and investing in projects that provide employment opportunities. In response to the passage of Assembly Bill 680 in 2021, CARB is updating the Funding Guidelines for Agencies that Administer California Climate Investments to incorporate workforce standards that support the creation of high-quality jobs in applicable California Climate Investments programs.
Learn about and participate in the update to workforce standards.
Select a topic to get started:
Existing Workforce Policies and Resources
The Draft 2024 Funding Guidelines include recommended actions administering agencies can take to support workforce development. Agencies should prioritize investments in projects that directly support jobs that include the following job quality principles:
Wage and benefit standards
Training pathways
Local and targeted hiring
Supportive organizational culture
Worker voice and representation
Workplace safety
Supplemental materials to support implementation of these principles can be found on the Resource Portal.
The Funding Guidelines require jobs reporting, including the results of the prospective jobs co-benefit modeling tool for all projects, as well as reporting on real world jobs supported directly by Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund dollars for projects meeting certain criteria.
Existing resources for administering agencies include:
Learn more about existing projects that support training and workforce development:
What is Assembly Bill 680?
Assembly Bill 680 directs CARB to work with the California Workforce Development Board to update the Funding Guidelines to provide guidance on the following workforce standards for certain California Climate Investments programs:
Fair and responsible employer standards
Inclusive procurement policies
Prevailing wage for construction work
Community workforce agreements for construction projects > $1,000,000
Preference for projects with educational/training partnerships
Preference to applicants that demonstrate creation of high-quality jobs
Applicability
Although these standards are only required for a subset of California Climate Investments programs and projects, all programs are encouraged to incorporate recommended workforce development strategies to support a robust workforce in the new, low-carbon economy and improve access to high-quality jobs.
The bill is limited to programs that receive continuous Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund appropriations. Assembly Bill 680 and subsequent legislation exempted three of these programs, leaving the following four programs subject to the Assembly Bill 680 requirements:
Assembly Bill 680 then establishes exemptions for projects that involve:
The end result of these exemptions is a specific subset of projects for which there is a compliance obligation under the bill. In developing guidance under Assembly Bill 680, we hope to create additional recommended guidance for other California Climate Investments administering agencies to incorporate proactive workforce policies into their programs.
We Want to Hear From You!
Public Workshops
CARB hosted a public workgroup to discuss the workforce standards that will be included in the update to the Funding Guidelines pursuant to Assembly Bill 680 on October 24, 2023.
The workshop provided the public with an opportunity to learn more about the workforce requirements outlined in AB 680 and provide feedback on potential implementation approaches. You can read the Workgroup Notice (Aviso del Taller) and view the Workgroup Presentation (Presentación del Taller) or Workgroup Recording (Grabación del Taller) to learn more.
Contact Us!
Contact us with your comments, ideas, or questions using the form below:
We would like your input on how to best foster equitable workforce development through California Climate Investments programs. Please let us know any thoughts, concerns, or suggestions in the comment box below.
