Who We Are
The Who Will Build (WWB) Funders Collaborative, comprised of the Smidt Foundation/Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, Ballmer Group, The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and the California Community Foundation, have come together to understand and support pathways to good construction jobs in the post-fire recovery and to answer a pressing question: Who will build?
The Collaborative engaged Estolano Advisors (EA) and the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) to create a research to action framework for a vibrant skilled trades ecosystem that is grounded in Los Angeles’ unique construction and workforce development context.
Over the next year, the team will:
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Undertake a demand study to understand what will be built (e.g. single family, residential, multifamily, retail, infrastructure), and in what likely sequence.
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Compile a directory of skilled trades programs in LA County.
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Assess the gaps between the demand and supply of workers.
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Make recommendations to help address gaps and opportunities, including existing programs that could scale and/or best practices elsewhere.
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Provide external updates (regional public agencies, workforce development and philanthropic partners) throughout the project.
