Updated
Updated · Santa Maria Times · Jun 21
Santa Barbara Workforce Board Offers Up to 100% Wage Subsidies to Link Job Seekers With Training
Updated
Updated · Santa Maria Times · Jun 21

Santa Barbara Workforce Board Offers Up to 100% Wage Subsidies to Link Job Seekers With Training

2 articles · Updated · Santa Maria Times · Jun 21

Summary

  • Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board said county residents can access job-search help, resume support, career exploration, paid work experience and funding for state-approved training or certification programs.
  • At its Santa Maria office at 1410 S Broadway and through countywide operators, the board enrolls participants individually to assess skills, map career goals and connect them with on-the-job training or new-industry pathways.
  • Businesses partnering through the Build Your Workforce program can receive 50%, 90% or 100% wage subsidization for eligible hires, a pitch the board launched last year with the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce.
  • The programs serve eligible residents starting at age 14 and focus on people facing barriers to employment, while also offering workshops in soft skills, digital literacy, rapid response and layoff-aversion services.

Insights

Beyond current jobs, how is the workforce board preparing Santa Maria's talent for careers that will be transformed by AI?
With the Workforce Pell Grant starting next month, how will local programs leverage this new federal funding for job seekers?
While wage subsidies help businesses hire, what is the long-term career success rate for participants after the financial support ends?