SACRAMENTO, Calif. – August 3, 2025 — The Associated General Contractors of California’s Construction Education Foundation (AGC CEF) is proud to announce it 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 grant is part of a broader $26 million statewide investment aimed at increasing access to construction careers through apprenticeships for women, non-binary and other underrepresented Californians.
AGC CEF will execute its grant-funded scope in close partnership with the Northern California Laborers Training & Retraining Center and the Southern California Laborers Training School, building on the success of its ERiCA Round 1 award, which concluded in June 2025.
The Round 2 grant supports AGC CEF’s Build California initiative in three key areas:
- Recruitment: In collaboration with the Laborers Training Centers and BuildIT, AGC CEF will scale outreach efforts through partnerships with schools, community organizations, social and digital media campaigns, and in-person events to engage women and individuals from historically underrepresented populations. The goal is to reach 20,000 Californians and provide career navigation and apprenticeship entry support to hundreds each year.
- Childcare: This funding will enable AGC CEF to administer $1.2 million in direct childcare stipends to support female and underrepresented pre-apprentices and apprentices, helping to remove caregiving as a barrier to participation and retention. It will also support the staffing and infrastructure needed to deliver wraparound supportive services—including referrals, case management, and coordination with training and employer partners—to eligible individuals statewide.
- Workplace Culture: The grant will support efforts to foster more inclusive, respectful, and supportive jobsite environments for pre-apprentices and apprentices. AGC CEF will partner with Alteristic Inc. to deliver bystander intervention training to a range of stakeholders, including apprentices, apprenticeship staff, contractor executives, HR and safety leaders, and public and private owners and agencies, to promote safe, accountable, and respectful work environments. In parallel, the Northern and Southern California Laborers Training Centers will provide apprentices with specialized training on mental health awareness, assertive communication, mentoring, psychological safety, and stress management—equipping them with essential tools for success and long-term retention in the industry.
“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. Together, we’re building an industry culture where every apprentice is supported and set up to succeed.”
“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, Workforce & Community Development at AGC of California, and Executive Director of the AGC Construction Education Foundation (CEF). “Too often, women and underrepresented individuals start down a path into construction only to exit when basic needs like childcare support or a respectful jobsite culture are unmet. This investment allows us to take on those challenges head-on and build a more supportive and resilient pipeline into construction careers.”
“This grant is about practical solutions that change real lives,” said Daniel R. Dumke, Chair of the AGC Construction Education Foundation and Senior Director at Shawmut Design and Construction, “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. By coordinating across employers, training providers, and community partners, we’re opening doors and helping people stay in the careers they worked so hard to enter.”
To learn more about the ERiCA Round 2 grant program and view the complete list of funded organizations, visit the California Department of Industrial Relations’ press release: https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2025/2025-07.html
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About the AGC Construction Education Foundation
Founded in 2001, the AGC Construction Education Foundation (AGC CEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit benefit corporation created by construction industry leaders to address California’s workforce needs and systemic barriers to entry for underserved communities. Through its core programs—AGC Student Chapters, Build California, DEIB, Emerging Leaders Training & Education, and Small/Underrepresented Businesses—AGC CEF serves thousands of Californians annually and is a leader in workforce development and industry inclusion.
About the Associated General Contractors of California
Since 1920, the Associated General Contractors of California (AGC of California), based in Sacramento, has worked alongside members to provide advocacy, education, career development, and networking opportunities to construction professionals. Learn more at www.agc-ca.org.
