WDBCCC Blog

On May 12, the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC) participated in the DOGWF Grant Community of Practice session hosted at the Phillips 66 Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex in Rodeo, California. The session brought together grantees, workforce partners, and industry representatives to collaborate on grant implementation strategies, discuss shared workforce challenges, and explore future opportunities for regional partnership and innovation.

Justin, 25, once worked in sales but knew he was meant for something more. Tyler, 20, grew up in a family of firefighters, raised on stories of service and sacrifice. Both were searching for purpose and found it through the EMS Corps program, developed by the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC) and Mt. Diablo Adult Education. With the help of WDBCCC, tuition was covered using Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) federal training funds. Mt. Diablo Adult Education provided the classroom and instructional foundation that gave Justin and Tyler the skills to pursue EMT certification.

Administered by the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC) in partnership with the Workforce Services Bureau, the CCWORKS Subsidized Employment Program is dedicated to helping CalWORKS and Welfare-to-Work (WTW) participants build strong pathways to employment. Through CCWORKS, employers receive a wage subsidy to hire eligible participants for up to six months—opening doors to meaningful work experience, new skills, and renewed confidence on the path to long-term, unsubsidized employment.

The Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC) continues to expand opportunities for skilled workers through the Oil & Gas Workforce Career Mobility Initiative, formerly known as the Displaced Oil and Gas Worker Fund (DOGWF). This initiative focuses on helping workers in Contra Costa County strengthen their skills, access new training opportunities, and pursue careers in growing industries while maintaining strong wages and long-term stability.

The Workforce Development Board (WDB) of Contra Costa County was proudly represented at the Annual California Workforce Association (CWA) Day at the Capitol by Executive Director Tamia Brown, Youth Program Manager and Grant Manager Noramah Burch, and Administrative Services Assistant III Vincent Manuel. This important statewide event provides a platform for workforce development leaders to engage directly with Sacramento legislators and their staff, sharing insights on regional initiatives and pressing workforce needs.

The Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC), in partnership with the Bay Front Chamber of Commerce, co-hosted and sponsored the 2026 West Contra Costa Career & Resource Fair on February 18, 2026. Held at the Hercules Community Center, the event brought together employers, community partners, and local job seekers from across the county.

The Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC), through the Displaced Oil and Gas Workers Fund (DOGWF), has launched a new training cohort in partnership with the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) and Laborers’ Local 324. This cohort represents a strategic investment in union career pathways that allow participants to build on their existing skills while remaining within the same union.

At the WDBCCC, we are proud to be part of a new Bay Area program that aims to support this population and other under-served, under-resourced individuals while promoting economic growth. The Workforce Waterfront Coalition is an industry-led initiative that seeks to create a pipeline of ship maintenance and repair workers.

A recent $1 million award from the High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) allows the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC) to expand an innovative job program designed to achieve equity for more people in Contra Costa County's underserved communities. The Paramedic 4 Equity (P4E) program allows emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to train to become paramedics while earning a paycheck.

CCWORKS’ first-ever such program, the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Pilot included four students who participated across county district offices, which included the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC) and two Employment & Human Services offices in Antioch and Richmond. The youth participants were 16- and 17-year-old students from Contra Costa County.