OC BUSINESS JOURNAL:The Hornet Drone Apprenticeship at Fullerton College, the first of its kind in California, teaches 25 students annually in autonomous systems development, preparing them for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 certificate test and OSHA certification.
It’s already paying dividends for Southern California Edison (SCE), which uses drones for wildfire mitigation and infrastructure inspection.
SCE has hired graduates from the apprenticeship program as drone pilots, integrating them into critical roles. SCE contractors, such as C2 Group, have also hired graduates from the drone apprenticeship program, integrating them into critical roles within the company.
“Drones are essential for inspecting electrical infrastructure in high-risk areas,” SCE spokesman Reggie Kumar told the Business Journal. “They help SCE crews capture high-quality images that are difficult to obtain from the ground.”
The drone program was launched in 2022 with a $575,000 grant from the State of California, Edison International and the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF), OC’s second largest nonprofit (see page 18.) Such classes are part of an effort to expand the capabilities of Orange County’s workforce beyond traditional skills.
The OCCF has developed its Workforce Development Initiative, which aims to help local businesses access the talent necessary for growth, while simultaneously helping individuals improve their economic prospects.
“The genesis of the idea came through our ongoing review and concern for the workforce indicators reports that we kept seeing over multiple years,” said Cathleen Otero, the foundation’s chief operating officer. “The number of high-skilled middle jobs that were going unfilled… it was clear something needed to be done.”
Strategic Collaboration in Workforce Development
The Workforce Development Initiative targets graduating high school seniors, disconnected youth and underemployed adults by providing training and resources for workforce re-entry or career advancement.
Since its launch in 2019, the Workforce Development Initiative has distributed $2.19 million through 22 grants, supporting 12 projects.
“A middle-skills job in a high-earning potential range could allow someone to live and thrive in our region, particularly given the affordability issues we face here in Orange County,” Otero said.“We wanted to create an opportunity where we’re investing in young talent so that they can stay where they live, where they work and thrive long-term here in Orange County.”
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