Workforce Connection

What Workforce Connection does

Workforce Connection is a public workforce development organization administered by the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board (FRWDB) and operating as a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title 1 financially assisted program. Founded in 2016 as the service-delivery brand of the Fresno Regional Workforce Investment Board, the organization provides no-cost employment, training, and career services to adult job seekers, dislocated workers, young adults aged 14-24, veterans, and Fresno County employers through a network of physical One-Stop Centers located in Fresno (West, East, Comprehensive), Parlier, and Mendota. Core service lines are Adult Services (job search, résumé writing, career counseling, demand-occupation training) and Young Adult Services (academic support, career assessments, job readiness, work experience, mentoring), supplemented by Business Services including recruitment assistance, an HR Hotline, Fresno4Biz portal, and Rapid Response for layoffs.

The underlying technology platform is California's CalJOBS statewide online labor exchange (resume creation, job matching, career research), augmented by O*NET and WorkKeys standardized career assessment tools and a Participant Roadmap video series. The organization does not own proprietary technology beyond its program-curriculum content and a Fresno4Biz multi-organization portal. Training products include the ValleyBuild / Multi-Craft Pre-Apprenticeship Program (covering construction math, forklift, plumbing, sheet metal, electrical — achieving a 92% success rate across 389 participants), Forestry Corps, and EMS Corps.

Workforce Connection's revenue model is entirely grant- and appropriation-funded rather than commercial. Primary funding flows from WIOA Title 1 (federal workforce innovation allocation administered through the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board), supplemented by state grants (notably $1.56M from Senate Bill 1 for ValleyBuild, $1.6M for forestry training in February 2020), federal grants ($192,300 EPA for environmental training, $200K for renewable fuel youth training), and approximately $1M in multi-grant funding for veteran and Central Valley services documented in 2015. All services to job seekers and employers are provided at no charge. The customer base consists of Fresno County residents (long-tail individuals) on the demand side and Fresno County employers (SMBs such as Future Ford of Clovis, West Coast Enterprises, CS & FD Medical Waste Disposal, and enterprises such as Petco) on the employer-services side. Geographic reach is primarily Fresno County, with the ValleyBuild Partnership extending into a 14-county Central Valley region.

Name

Workforce Connection

Legal name

Fresno Regional Workforce Investment Board

Website

https://workforce-connection.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Workforce Connection is a public WIOA Title 1 workforce development organization in Fresno County, California, providing no-cost employment, training, and career services to adult job seekers, young adults, veterans, and employers through a network of One-Stop Centers and the ValleyBuild pre-apprenticeship program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL), Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Employer-Led Workforce Partnerships & Sector Strategies (EDAAAOAB)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Job training programs
• Career counseling services
• Employment assistance programs
• Apprenticeship training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fresno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. WIOA Title 1 Funding: Primary funding from Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title 1 financially assisted programs. Federal workforce development grants administered through the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board.
2. State Grants (SB1): State transportation initiative funding from Senate Bill 1 focused on workforce training programs. ValleyBuild Partnership funded through $1.56 million state grant with equal matching contributions from partners.
3. EPA Grants: Environmental Protection Agency grants for workforce development in environmental sectors such as solid waste management, wastewater treatment, and integrated pest management.
4. Youth Training Grants: Grants for training youth in renewable fuel production sector and other workforce development programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Workforce Connection is a public workforce development organization that provides no-cost employment, training, and career services through a network of One-Stop Centers across Fresno County. It delivers job search assistance, career counseling, resume writing, skills training, pre-apprenticeship programs, and recruitment support for employers, funded primarily through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I.

Product overview

Workforce Connection is a public workforce development organization administered by the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board, offering a network of One-Stop Centers throughout Fresno County that provide no-cost employment and training services. The core portfolio consists of Adult Services and Young Adult Services (ages 14-24) as the primary service lines, supplemented by Business Services including recruitment assistance, HR support, and Rapid Response for companies facing layoffs. Training programs include ValleyBuild/Multi-Craft Pre-Apprenticeship, Forestry Corps, and EMS Corps. Additional offerings include Veterans Priority of Service, an HR Hotline, and participant tools including video-based roadmaps and online interest forms. Services are provided at no cost to eligible participants and are funded through WIOA Title I.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ValleyBuild: A regional pre-apprenticeship training program for building and construction trades, operating across 14 California counties, funded through Senate Bill 1.
• Fresno4Biz
• Rapid Response

Products and services

• Adult Services Employment and training services for adult job seekers, including career counseling, job search assistance, resume writing, skills training, and work-based learning opportunities. Funded by WIOA Title I Adult program.
• Young Adult Services (YAS) Career pathway programs for youth and young adults ages 14-24, including work experience, occupational skills training, mentoring, and supportive services. Funded by WIOA Title I Youth program.
• Business Services Recruitment, screening, candidate assessment, and customized business solutions for Fresno-area employers. Includes tax credit incentives, layoff aversion strategies, and a Human Resources Hotline.
• Rapid Response Emergency response service for businesses facing layoffs or plant closures, providing on-site worker transition assistance, mass layoff workshops, and resource coordination in partnership with CalJOBS.
• ValleyBuild Multi-Craft Pre-Apprenticeship Program Pre-apprenticeship construction training program providing orientation, industry-recognized credentials, and a pathway into building trades apprenticeships. Affiliated with the Building Trades Council.
• Forestry Corps Conservation-based training and employment program funded through an EPA Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Grant, providing workforce pathways in forestry and environmental stewardship.
• EMS Corps Emergency Medical Services training and certification program preparing young adults for careers as EMTs and first responders, with strong industry partnership components.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% success rate; 356 of 389 participants completed training; 75%+ found jobs after class completion
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ValleyBuild PartnershipflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-craft pre-apprenticeship program across 14 Central Valley counties. Led by Fresno Area Workforce Investment Corporation as fiscal agent. Partners include Building Trades Councils, Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees, 8 workforce development boards, MC3 providers, and community-based organizations. $1.56M SB1 state grant with matching contributions. Nearly 92% success rate with 356 of 389 participants completing training.
• Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare Counties Building and Construction Trades CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with area Building Trades Council for pre-apprenticeship training program developed over a decade. Chuck Riojas, financial secretary/treasurer, represents the council. Program provides access to living-wage careers through apprenticeship pathways.
• Fresno Area Workforce Investment CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes as fiscal agent for the ValleyBuild Partnership and multi-craft pre-apprenticeship program.
• The Rios CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing the pre-apprenticeship training model through partnership with Building Trades Council and Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board.
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal IBEW chapter provides apprenticeship opportunities for Multi-Craft Pre-Apprenticeship Program graduates. Graduate Alexis Rowberry became an IBEW apprentice working on projects including solar farms and school HVAC.
• GRID AlternativesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolar installation nonprofit provides photovoltaic training and hands-on solar installation experience for Workforce Connection participants over nine years.
• PetcominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Petco location, led by Gabriel Garcia, creates work experiences and expanded opportunities for local youth through Workforce Connection partnership.
• Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board (FRWDB)coreOthersParent organization that funds and directs Workforce Connection. Works on behalf of employers and job seekers throughout Fresno County to promote and sustain regional economic vitality. Executive Director: Blake Konczal.
• America Job Exchange / California EDDcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial state partner providing access to California's labor exchange system and career center network listing.
• California Teaching Fellows FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative of more than eight Central Valley colleges partnering with FRWDB on Teaching Fellows program - professors support part-time paid jobs for students and act as academic mentors for K-12 instructor trainees.
• California Employment Development Department (EDD)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState agency providing CalJOBS platform, labor market information, unemployment insurance benefits, and specialized services for veterans including those with service-connected disabilities.
• Future Ford of ClovisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAutomotive dealership expanded community outreach by offering internship scholarships to high school students through Clovis High automotive program in partnership with Workforce Connection.
• West Coast Enterprises Truck & Trailer SalesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFamily-owned full-service truck and trailer dealership in three-year partnership with Workforce Connection to recruit maintenance workers for unsubsidized employment.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Year Up: National nonprofit providing workforce training and career placement for young adults ages 18-24 from disadvantaged backgrounds. Directly comparable to Workforce Connection's Young Adult Services segment in target demographic and career pathway approach.
• Goodwill Industries International: Major nonprofit workforce development operator running job training, placement, and career services across the U.S. Comparable in mission (mission-driven, free or low-cost services) and target populations (disadvantaged job seekers, youth, veterans) but operates at significantly greater national scale.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technical training (IT, cybersecurity, software engineering) and career placement for adults from underrepresented backgrounds. Comparable model of free workforce training funded through grants and employer partnerships.
• America's Job Centers of California (AJCC): The statewide network of WIOA-funded One-Stop Career Centers operated across California. AJCC operates the same federal Title 1 model that Workforce Connection runs in Fresno County, providing the most direct operational and regulatory comparison.

Others

• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) / NJATC: National electrical workers union and its apprenticeship training arm. Functions as a downstream partner absorbing Workforce Connection pre-apprenticeship graduates, and represents the broader registered apprenticeship system that competes for the same participant pool.

Emerging players

• GRID Alternatives: National nonprofit providing solar installation training and workforce development. Comparable mission overlap in green-jobs workforce development and has a nine-year partnership with Workforce Connection; operates its own training programs that intersect with the anchor's solar curriculum.

Broad incumbents

• ResCare Workforce Services (now BrightSpring): Large national workforce services provider operating WIOA and TANF employment programs on contract with state and local governments. Provides a for-profit-operated comparison to Workforce Connection's publicly-administered WIOA delivery model.
• California Employment Development Department (EDD): California's state labor agency that administers CalJOBS, unemployment insurance, and labor market information that Workforce Connection leverages. Functions as both upstream partner and broader statewide incumbent with overlapping workforce services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/workforce-connection-fresno
• Facebookfacebook.com/FRWDB

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Workforce Connection