Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board

What Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board does

Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board (SELACO WDB) is a private, non-profit workforce development board established in 1985 under a joint powers authority comprising the cities of Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, Norwalk, and Paramount. It operates as the designated America's Job Center of California (AJCC) one-stop operator for the Southeast LA County Local Workforce Development Area, delivering free career services to job seekers and subsidized workforce solutions to employers. The organization is funded primarily through federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) allocations, California Employment Training Panel (ETP) pass-through funding, and state/county grants including HIRE, Homeless Employment (H2E), Prison to Employment (P2E), and Regional Equity and Recovery Plan awards. There is no proprietary technology platform — service delivery relies on the state's CalJOBS labor exchange, virtual Zoom workshops, and standard web portals — and all services are provided at no cost to job seekers and qualifying employers.

SELACO WDB's service portfolio spans three primary streams: Job Seeker Services (resume assistance, interview coaching, vocational training funding, work experience, supportive services); Business Services (recruitment, hiring events, On-the-Job Training wage reimbursement up to 50%, incumbent worker training, apprenticeship development, tax credit navigation including WOTC, ERC, HHTC, DAC); and Young Adults Services for ages 16-24 including WIOA Youth Program vocational training, Youth@Work work experience (20 hours enrichment + 140 hours work), CATS career pathway, and Foster2SocialWork initiatives. Distribution runs through the AJCC in Cerritos, eight city-assigned Business Engagement Specialists, a 50+ partner referral network (adult schools, community colleges, EDD, DOR, CalWORKS, Salvation Army, LA CADA, UAII, SCORE, Operation Hope, SBA/SBDC/LAEDC), and virtual/online delivery channels. The Praxis Group was retained as One-Stop Operator for program years 2025-2029, and SELACO WDB has been recognized by the state of California as a high-performing workforce development board.

Name

Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board

Legal name

Workforce Development Corporation of Southeast Los Angeles County, Inc. (d/b/a Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board)

Website

https://selacowdb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board is a non-profit, joint-powers-authority workforce board operating the America's Job Center of California in Cerritos, delivering free job-seeker career services and employer hiring/training support across eight Southeast LA County cities via WIOA, ETP, and state grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Educational Services (611)

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 industry

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Job seeker assistance
• Employer workforce training
• Youth career programs
• Vocational training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cerritos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Allocations: SELACO WDB operates as a public workforce development board funded primarily through federal and state workforce investment grants including WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), Employment Training Panel (ETP) funding from California, and regional government allocations. All services to job seekers and employers are provided at no cost, with funding sourced from public workforce development budgets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

SELACO WDB is a public workforce development board that operates America's Job Center of California (AJCC) in Cerritos, delivering free career services, vocational training, and employer workforce solutions to job seekers, youth (ages 16-24), veterans, and businesses across eight Southeast Los Angeles County cities. Funded almost entirely through WIOA, ETP, and other public grants, the board provides résumé/interview assistance, paid work experience, On-the-Job Training with wage reimbursement, customized business training, apprenticeships, and tax credit navigation at no cost to participants or employers.

Product overview

SELACO WDB operates as a workforce development board providing a coordinated portfolio of employment and training services through its America's Job Center of California (AJCC) location in Cerritos. The organization offers three primary service streams: (1) Job Seeker Services providing career assistance, workshops, and job search resources; (2) Business Services offering recruitment, subsidized training, apprenticeships, and tax incentives to employers; and (3) Youth Services (WIOA Youth Program) for young adults ages 16-24 including vocational training, work experience, and career pathway programs. Additional specialized programs include Veterans Services with priority of service, the Employment Training Panel (ETP) providing no-cost employee training to qualified businesses, and grant-funded initiatives like HIRE, Homeless Employment (H2E), and Prison to Employment (P2E). The organization also delivers employer-focused workshops, Toastmasters clubs for communication skills, and tax credit programs (WOTC, ERC, HHTC) through partnerships with government agencies and community organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• America's Job Center of California (AJCC) Cerritos: One-stop career center providing job search assistance, workshops, and employment services
• Youth@Work
• CATS
• Foster2SocialWork
• Toastmasters LUNCHTIME LEADERS

Products and services

• America's Job Center of California (AJCC) - Cerritos The flagship one-stop career center in Cerritos providing free job search assistance, workshops, career counseling, CalJOBS access, partner referrals, and on-site EDD and DOR representatives. Houses the primary physical/virtual point of access to all WIOA-funded services in the region for both job seekers and employers.
• Job Seeker Services Comprehensive free employment assistance including job search workshops, career counseling, résumé assistance, interview preparation, CalJOBS registration, labor market information, and access to unemployment insurance support. Targeted at unemployed and underemployed individuals, career changers, and those seeking workforce reentry.
• Business Services Employer-focused services including recruitment, regional job fairs, subsidized training (OJT), incumbent worker training, apprenticeship program development, layoff aversion/rapid response support, and tax incentive guidance (WOTC, ERC, HHTC, DAC). Targeted at small, mid-market, and enterprise employers in Southeast LA County.
• Young Adults Services (WIOA Youth Program) WIOA-funded youth services for ages 16-24 including vocational training assistance, paid work experience, college enrollment support, CATS career pathway programs, the Foster2SocialWork initiative for foster youth, and STEPS high-performance thinking seminars. Designed for WIOA-eligible youth including school dropouts and those with barriers such as foster care, homelessness, disability, justice involvement, pregnancy/parenting, or low income.
• Veterans Services Specialized free employment programs for veterans (served at least one day in active military) and eligible spouses of veterans with service-connected disabilities or deaths. Provides priority of service, one-on-one vocational guidance, career counseling, veteran-specific job fairs and networking groups (Experience Unlimited, Veterans Networking Group), résumé and interview coaching, training referrals, and VA benefits information.
• Employment Training Panel (ETP) / Business Training State-funded customized employee training delivered at no cost to qualified companies in partnership with California ETP. Targeted industries include Manufacturing, Engineering, Construction, Transportation/Logistics, Information Technology, and Biomedical. Uses SELACO trainers plus training partners including US Riverside and CSULB.
• Work Experience Program Paid work experience program offering up to 200 hours at no cost to employers, designed to help participants with limited work history develop skills and employment history. Wages are fully subsidized by SELACO WDB using public workforce development funds.
• On-the-Job Training (OJT) Training program allowing employers to train newly hired SELACO-referred employees with up to 50% wage reimbursement from SELACO. Enables businesses to shape training to their specific operational needs while reducing the cost of onboarding and upskilling new hires.
• CATS (Career Pathway Program) Youth career pathway program designed to help young adults establish career pathways through business engagement, exposing participants to industry sectors with long-term career potential. Part of the WIOA Young Adults Services portfolio at SELACO WDB.
• Foster2SocialWork Program Collaboration with NASW-CA offering foster and former foster youth ages 18-24 a pathway into social work careers, including a 2-week bootcamp and paid work experience placement. Designed to help current and former foster youth explore and enter social work careers.
• Youth@Work Program Work experience program for youth ages 14-24 consisting of 20 hours of personal enrichment training plus 140 hours of work experience, with priority enrollment for disadvantaged populations. Operates as a community-enrollment youth program under Young Adults Services.
• HIRE Grant Services Helping Individuals Reinvent Employment (HIRE) grant-funded program providing workforce services to help individuals return to employment after displacement or extended unemployment.
• Homeless Employment (H2E) Program LA RISE County-funded project (H2E) supporting homeless individuals and those at risk of homelessness to secure housing and employment through partnership with Mentored Inc. and LA County WDACS. Grant has been renewed through 06/30/23.
• Prison to Employment (P2E) Program California state-funded Prison to Employment (P2E) initiative operationalizing workforce and reentry services for formerly incarcerated individuals through partnership with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Connects reentry populations with employment opportunities and workforce services.
• Tax Incentive Programs Federal and state tax credit navigation for employers including Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), Disabled Access Credit (DAC), Employee Retention Credit (ERC), and Homeless Hiring Tax Credit (HHTC) worth up to $30,000 per eligible hire. Provided to qualifying SELACO-engaged employers at no cost.
• Registered Apprenticeship Program Apprenticeship program development support connecting SELACO-engaged employers with diverse candidate pools through work-based learning combined with customized curriculum and instructional partnership.
• Job Search Workshops Virtual and in-person workshop series covering job search skills, résumé writing, interviewing techniques, and the monthly STEPS (Steps to Economic and Personal Success) high-performance thinking seminar. Offered free to job seekers through the AJCC.
• Employer Workshops Business development workshops for employers covering capital, tax incentives, workforce development, contracting, business law, and counseling. Offered in partnership with the US Small Business Administration (SBA), Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Operation Hope, and the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC).

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple job placements across diverse sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, construction, and food service, with documented wage progression (e.g., $7 raise within 8 months of employment)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prison to Employment (P2E) ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018California state grant program ($37 million over 3 budget years) operationalizing workforce and reentry services. Integrates workforce services with California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reentry programs. Contact: Renee Galvan-Padilla.
• Toastmasters International (LUNCHTIME LEADERS Club)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005SELACO WDB opened its Toastmasters club in 2005 to assist job seekers with communication and leadership skills. The LUNCHTIME LEADERS club meets weekly on Wednesdays from noon to 1pm. A Spanish-speaking Toastmasters club also meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Hundreds of job seekers have benefited from these programs.
• California Employment Training Panel (ETP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSELACO is partnered with the California Employment Training Panel to provide customized training to employees of qualified companies at no cost. Targeted industries include Manufacturing, Engineering, Construction, Transportation/Logistics, IT, and Biomedical. SELACO uses its own trainers plus partners including US Riverside and CSULB for training delivery.
• Employment Development Department (EDD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDD has Workforce Services Customer Service representatives on-site at the SELACO AJCC in Cerritos to help customers navigate EDD services including Unemployment Insurance (UI), Disability Insurance (DI), and Paid Family Leave (PFL). EDD representatives assist with CalJOBS registration and EDD website navigation.
• ABC Adult SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdult education provider at 12254 Cuesta Drive, Cerritos, CA 90703. Partners with SELACO to co-enroll job seekers in vocational training programs including pharmacy technician and medical assistant/phlebotomy programs.
• Cerritos CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCerritos College Adult Education and Diversity Programs at 1110 Alondara Boulevard, Norwalk, CA 90650. Co-enrollment partner providing higher education pathways and vocational training for SELACO job seekers.
• Downey Adult SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdult education provider at 12340 Woodruff Avenue, Downey, CA 90241. Partners with SELACO for vocational training programs including dental assistant certification (800-hour, 40-week program).
• Norwalk-La Mirada Adult School (NLMAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdult education provider at 15711 Pioneer Boulevard, Norwalk, CA 90650. Co-enrollment partner for vocational training and adult education services.
• Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOR Norwalk Branch Office provides on-site partner services for individuals with disabilities. Offers orientation virtual workshops, SMART Goals, Soft Skills, Career Assessment, Diversity and Inclusion, and Transferable Skills. On-site partner contact: Chaz Vesga.
• Department of Public Social Services - CalWORKS/GAINcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalWORKS/GAIN program referral partnership with Los Angeles County DPSS at 12727 Norwalk Boulevard, Norwalk, CA 90650. Connects welfare recipients with workforce development services for employment and self-sufficiency.
• Long Beach Job CorpsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Job Corps program partner at 1903 Santa Fe Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90810. Referrals between SELACO and Long Beach Job Corps for youth workforce development services.
• Salvation Army Bell Shelter / Employment ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalvation Army provides veteran employment services with a representative available on-site on Wednesdays at SELACO. Also provides homeless employment support through the Bell Shelter. Referrals from Salvation Army to SELACO AJCC for workforce services.
• United American Indian Involvement (UAII)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUAII promotes physical, behavioral, and spiritual well-being of American Indian/Alaska Natives in urban Los Angeles. Located on the same floor as SELACO WDB. Provides workforce services referral for Native community members.
• The Praxis GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded One-Stop Operator contract for program years 2020-2024 and subsequently for PY 2025-2029. Manages the one-stop delivery system for the SELACO WDB local workforce development area.
• LA CADA (Los Angeles County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLA CADA in Santa Fe Springs serves as a work experience placement site for SELACO participants in addiction recovery. Nellie Leon and Faafouina Alesana completed paid work experience at LA CADA and were subsequently hired permanently.
• SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site SCORE representative available by appointment for one-hour mentoring sessions. SCORE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and SBA resource partner providing free business mentorship to small businesses. SELACO's SCORE connection supports employer workshops and entrepreneurship programs.
• Operation HopeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner4-week entrepreneur training course offered in partnership with SELACO. Curriculum includes business plan creation, social media marketing, credit access, and financial literacy. Originally conducted on-premises, now available virtually.
• SBA, SBDC, LAEDCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with US Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Center, and Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation for employer workshops covering capital, tax incentives, workforce development, contracting, business law, and counseling.
• Norwalk Housing AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing subsidy and supportive services partner for Norwalk residents, providing workforce linkage for housing assistance recipients. Located at 12700 Norwalk Boulevard, Norwalk, CA 90650.
• Homeless Employment (H2E) Program - LA County WDACScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLA RISE County-funded project supporting homeless individuals and those at risk of homelessness. Partners with Mentored Inc. and LA County. Grant renewed through 06/30/23. Contacts: Tara Luna, Corina Coronel, Amber Hernandez.
• Downey MADE (Manufacturing Academy for Developing Employees)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched in 2016. Experiential career exploration program for students in Downey linked to industry sectors. SELACO serves as employer on-record, handling fiscal responsibilities, timesheets, and payroll processing for participant work experience.
• NTMA Training Centers (National Tooling and Machining Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTMA Training Centers provides machining education and training in partnership with SELACO WDB. Mission includes preparing qualified candidates for entry-level machining jobs, providing advanced machinist training to current industry employees, and promoting professional work ethics.
• Bellflower Adult Reentry ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdult reentry program at 6024 North Clark Avenue, Lakewood, CA 90712 providing workforce services for adults returning to the community from the justice system.
• Welding Certification Center (Pomona)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner for welding certification. Rafael Giovanni Insuasti completed a 4-month welding training program at this facility, funded by SELACO, leading to employment as a certified welder.
• California Truck Driving AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner for commercial truck driver certification. Sergio Gonzales completed 8 weeks of Class A truck driver training, funded by SELACO, leading to employment at Rifle Freight.
• C3 Skills AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative public/private partnership addressing the need for skilled care coordination workforce among hospital and clinic health systems in Southern California. Provides specialized training pathways for healthcare careers.
• Collaborative Community Network (CCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly collaboration of community-based organizations, education, and businesses from Southeast LA County area. Now meets virtually every other month with guest speakers on workforce topics. Three active committees: Business Engagement, Serving Target Populations, and Young Adults.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Maximus Workforce Services: Operates WIOA workforce programs and one-stop career centers nationally on contract to local WDBs and states. Directly comparable as a contract operator of the type of services SELACO delivers in-house, including case management and employment placement.
• San Gabriel Valley Workforce Development Board: WIOA Local WDB serving San Gabriel Valley in greater LA. Runs the same one-stop delivery, employer services, and youth programs under the same regulatory regime (WIOA, ETP), making it a direct structural peer.
• Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board: Operates the neighboring LA County Local Workforce Development Area with the same WIOA-based structure, AJCC delivery model, and employer/job-seeker service portfolio. Directly comparable as a sister local WDB in the same metropolitan labor market.
• Working Wardrobes: Southern California-based nonprofit providing workforce readiness services to individuals facing employment barriers, including career clothing, training, and placement. Adjacent in service model to SELACO's job seeker and supportive services for target populations.
• SER National (Jobs for Progress): National nonprofit providing workforce development, job training, and placement services with concentration in Latino and underserved communities, including in California. Comparable model to SELACO's community-led, grant-funded workforce service delivery.
• America Works: Private employment placement and workforce services firm focusing on hard-to-place job seekers including those with justice involvement, disabilities, and homelessness. Directly comparable mission and customer segments to SELACO's barriered-population programs.
• Pacific Gateway Workforce Innovation Network: Long Beach-area WIOA Local Workforce Development Area operator delivering the same AJCC-based job seeker services, employer engagement, and youth programs as SELACO. Operates as a direct regional peer serving an adjacent LA-area geography.
• Goodwill Industries of Southern California: Mission-aligned nonprofit providing job training, placement, and supportive services to individuals facing barriers to employment across Southern California. Operates competing workforce programs under similar federal/state grants, including WIOA Adult and Youth.

Emerging players

• Year Up: National nonprofit providing intensive workforce training and career pathway programs for young adults, particularly those facing opportunity gaps. Overlaps with SELACO's Youth@Work and CATS career pathway programs but operates a different training-and-internship model.

Broad incumbents

• California Workforce Development Board (CWDB): State-level policy and oversight body that funds and governs local WDBs including SELACO. Provides the regulatory framework and WIOA funding streams SELACO depends on, and is a comparator at the policy/coordinating level rather than direct service delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/selacowib
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZW2G1itg7oG1hGGTeE_pNA
• Facebookfacebook.com/SELACOWIB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southeast-los-angeles-county-workforce-investment-board
• Instagraminstagram.com/selacowdb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board