Resilient Rebuilding Training for Fire-impacted Individuals

Wildfire relief

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Applying a proven solution to a new issue or sector (using an existing model, tool, resource, strategy, etc. for a new purpose)

Over 38,000 jobs were lost after the January fires in LA. Most impacted were small business owners and low-income service industry workers earning under $40,000/year. Related, the disaster is disproportionately impacting Latino workers and communities and exacerbating economic instability, inequality and higher exposure to air pollution.
Hermelina Guaderrama was a housecleaner in Altadena and her cleaning contracts were paused when the fires broke out. She shares, “Maybe we didn’t lose our apartment (to the fires), but what’s going to happen to our rent?” (Cal Matters). For these Angelenos, this natural disaster presents immediate consequences.
Concurrently, LA County, which is nearly 50% Latino, is expected to need 600,000 workers skilled in green jobs by 2050, a 78% increase over green jobs in our region from just 6 years ago. A lack of skilled workers to fill these jobs could hinder bold regional climate goals, delay projects, slow our economy, impact air quality and more.

LACI will hold a Resilient Rebuilding Training Course focused on building energy management systems (BEMS) and project management to support climate-resilient rebuilding emphasizing all-electric construction in the Palisades and Altadena over the short term, and in communities across LA County long-term.
BEMS supports energy-efficient and more affordable home reconstruction, sustainable infrastructure and clean energy systems. Project management training equips participants with the skills to coordinate complex rebuilding efforts, manage resources, and communicate with diverse stakeholders. Post-fires in LA, these skills are in demand given the scale of rebuilding required, now added to infrastructure projects already in progress for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
For this new cohort, LACI will recruit Angelenos affected by job loss and displacement in the most impacted wildfire areas. To aid outreach, we will work with community-based organizations including Community Coalition, LA Voice, Pasadena Community Job Center, and the Department of Angels to host focus groups that amplify the voices of those impacted, identify barriers to participation, co-design recruitment strategies that prioritize those most affected, and identify job placement opportunities.
Course participants will benefit from LACI’s proven Green Jobs training model, which comprises technical training, industry-recognized certifications, career coaching, case management, and job retention services.

LACI’s Resilient Rebuilding Training Course will reskill 30 people to meet growing demands for energy efficiency jobs; they will have new skills in BEMS and project management to contribute to rebuilding more resilient communities across Altadena, the Pacific Palisades, and Greater LA. Post-fire construction will benefit from energy-efficient planning, leading to lower utility bills and maintenance costs long-term, and our communities will be more resilient to extreme heat, power outages and wildfires.
Workers in fire-affected areas are more likely to be self-employed, earn less than $3,333/month (LA median is $7,980/month), and do not have workplace protections, whereas the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects construction manager jobs (median wage of $100,000+/year) to grow 9% by 2033. In the long-term, we envision that participants in this cohort will enter high-demand, secure careers in clean energy and sustainable construction with a 51% potential increase in monthly earnings.