LECET Southwest

What LECET Southwest does

LECET Southwest, formally the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust Southwest, is a Taft-Hartley Section 302(c) labor-management trust fund jointly governed by representatives of LIUNA and signatory contractors. Headquartered in Sacramento, California, the trust serves as the cooperation and training vehicle between union labor and management across California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Western Texas, covering more than 2,000 signatory contractors and 54,000 LIUNA members (27,000 in Northern California and 27,000 in Southern California). Its core mission is administering apprenticeship programs, journeyman upgrading, and labor-management coordination on construction projects tracked through a database of 38,000+ projects worth nearly $300 billion.

The trust delivers its mandate through a set of program offerings: apprenticeship pathways aligned with U.S. Department of Labor and AGC-funded training standards; pre-job conferences and in-person coordination with general contractors; a Workers' Compensation ADR program; a Workers' Compensation Insurance Brokerage Service; a drug testing consortium; safety and hazard communication resources; and federal contractor compliance support including Davis-Bacon prevailing-wage work. Its technology surface consists of the MEP GO mobile app for apprentice hour tracking and reporting on iOS and Android, integration with Dodge Data & Analytics' Construction Wire project intelligence platform, and project-monitoring systems that feed its cumulative regional database.

Financially, LECET Southwest operates as a non-profit trust funded primarily by signatory contractor contributions collected on covered work hours, supplemented by program service revenue such as Workers' Comp brokerage commissions. Operating headcount is intentionally lean at two named core staff (Executive Director Patrick Baker and Administrator Estela Penney), with program delivery scaled through partner apprenticeship centers, field coordinators, and the network of signatory contractors rather than through large in-house teams.

Name

LECET Southwest

Legal name

Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust Southwest

Website

https://lecetsouthwest.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LECET Southwest is a Taft-Hartley labor-management trust administering LIUNA apprenticeship, training, and project-coordination programs for 2,000+ signatory contractors and 54,000+ union members across California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Western Texas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Labor-Management Trust Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Help Supply Services (7363)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction & Trades Licensure (Contractor, Electrician, Plumber, HVAC CE) (EDAAALAH)

Keywords

• Labor-management trust
• Construction market intelligence
• Apprenticeship training programs
• Union contractor services
• Workers compensation ADR

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Signatory Contractor Membership: LECET Southwest operates as a labor-management partnership funded through contributions from LIUNA signatory contractors. Contractors become signatory through agreements with the Laborers' Union, contributing to the cooperative trust.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

LECET Southwest is a labor-management trust that provides value-added services to LIUNA signatory construction contractors across California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Western Texas. Its core offerings include a searchable contractor directory, the Market Expansion Program (MEP) for project lead tracking, the MEP GO mobile app, plus training, health and safety, employee benefits, workers' compensation ADR, fair contracting, advocacy, research, and marketing services designed to help signatory contractors win and execute construction projects.

Product overview

LECET Southwest is a labor-management partnership offering a unified platform of services connecting LIUNA signatory contractors with project opportunities and workforce resources. The core offerings include the Contractor Directory (searchable database of verified contractors), the Market Expansion Program (MEP) for project leads and tracking, and the MEP GO mobile app for on-the-go job searching. These are supplemented by data services including DNBi (Dun & Bradstreet) and IIR (Industrial Information Resources) for market intelligence. LECET Southwest also provides Training & Apprenticeship programs, Health & Safety services, Employee Benefits management, Workers' Compensation/ADR, Fair Contracting services, Industry Advocacy, Research, and Marketing services—all designed to support LIUNA members and their signatory contractors in winning and executing construction projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Contractor Directory Searchable online directory of LIUNA signatory contractors across Northern California, Southern California, San Diego, Arizona, New Mexico, and Western Texas. Allows search by name, work category, location, license type, and agency certifications.
• Market Expansion Program (MEP) Lead management system providing LIUNA affiliates and signatory contractors access to project lead information, plans, specification documents, and data from Dodge Data & Analytics. Features customizable project alerts filtered by location, type of work, and project size, delivered weekly via email.
• MEP GO Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android providing Laborers with a tool to effectively find projects and jobs and increase market share through the MEP system.
• Training & Apprenticeship Programs Comprehensive training network including apprenticeship programs (4,000+ hours on-the-job training plus classroom instruction), mobile training units, professional instructors, and affiliated training funds offering 140+ accredited courses.
• Health & Safety Services Services from the Laborers' Health & Safety Fund of North America including customized site safety plans, on-site safety assistance, innovative research, publications, wellness programs, and employee assistance programs.
• Employee Benefits Management Collectively bargained multi-employer retirement, medical and other benefit plans including health & welfare coverage, defined-benefit pension plans, vacation funds, and benefit portability, administered through affiliated benefit trust fund offices.
• Workers' Compensation / ADR Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program for workers' compensation that streamlines the claims process, reduces disputed claims, minimizes litigation, and provides insurance premium credits for participating contractors.
• Fair Contracting Services Contract compliance resources including enforcement of prevailing wage laws, regulatory resources, and support for responsible contractor requirements to promote honest and fair competition.
• Industry Advocacy Government relations and advocacy services at local, state, and federal levels to protect and advance work opportunities for Laborers and signatory contractors. Includes legislative expertise, regulatory monitoring, and industry alliances.
• Research Services Market research services tracking over 38,000 projects worth nearly $300 billion. Covers public works, industrial, energy, private commercial, and transmission market segments to help identify opportunities and risks.
• Marketing Services Marketing and communications campaign promoting the Laborers and their employers to awarding agencies and developers through trade publications, industry events, and one-on-one meetings. Conveys value proposition of quality, value, and safety.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 signatory contractors served across four states
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Oakland Roots and Soul Sports ClubminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 June 2024Sports club partnership with LIUNA as official Labor Union Partner, providing visibility to developers and planners with a robust workforce for Northern California infrastructure projects.
• Acrisure Arena (Coachella Valley)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 December 2022Official Labor Union Partner for the $300 million Acrisure Arena project in Palm Springs. Over 300 LIUNA Construction Craft Laborers and Plaster Tenders employed during construction phases.
• LIUNA (Laborers' International Union of North America)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLECET Southwest is a formal partnership between LIUNA and signatory contractors. LIUNA is the parent organization representing over 500,000 workers, providing governance, collective bargaining agreements, and access to the broader LIUNA network.
• Pacific Southwest Regional Office (LIUNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDay-to-day management of LIUNA's programs, activities, and contracts in the Pacific Southwest Region (AZ, CA, HI, NM, Western TX). Serves 65,000+ construction and public sector LIUNA members. Regional Manager: Ernesto J. Ordonez.
• Northern California District Council of Laborers (NCDCL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents 27,000+ LIUNA members throughout 46 counties of Northern California. Business Manager: Oscar De La Torre. Negotiates agreements on behalf of affiliated Local Unions.
• Southern California District Council of Laborers (SCDCL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents 27,000+ members throughout 12 counties of Southern California. Business Manager: Jon P. Preciado. Represents general construction laborers, specialty workers, public employees and studio utility employees.
• Laborers' Training & Retraining Trust Fund for Northern CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides cutting-edge training and apprenticeship programs for laborers and contractors. Training center located in San Ramon, CA with VR tour available.
• Laborers' Training & Retraining Trust of Southern CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates 12 facilities in Southern California. Provided 387,361 hours of construction skills training in 2023. Location: Azusa, CA with VR tour available.
• LIUNA Training & Education FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational training fund providing resources, accreditation support, and instructor certification programs for LIUNA affiliates. Located in Pomfret Center, CT.
• Laborers' Health & Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers customized site safety plans, on-site safety assistance, innovative research, publications and wellness programs to enhance contractor competitiveness and protect worker health.
• Signatory Contractors (2,000+)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction companies with agreements with LIUNA in California, Arizona, New Mexico, or Western Texas. These contractors benefit from training, project leads, and labor-management cooperation.
• Foundation for Fair ContractingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated organization providing fair contracting resources and enforcement of public construction laws. Located in Sacramento, CA.
• Center for Contract ComplianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated fair contracting organization serving Southern California. Located in El Monte, CA. Provides compliance resources to level the playing field.
• National Alliance for Fair ContractingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization advocating for fair contracting practices and compliance with prevailing wage laws.
• Associated General Contractors of CaliforniaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor contractor association included in quick links for industry collaboration and partnership opportunities.
• Western Wall and Ceiling Contractors Association (WWCCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner collaborating on plaster tenders apprenticeship program with Local 1414 and SCDCL.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Dodge Data & Analytics: Construction project intelligence provider integrated with LECET's MEP system. Comparable as a leading source of construction project data, plans, and specifications that LECET aggregates for signatory contractors.
• Associated General Contractors of America (AGC): Major construction industry trade association representing general contractors, specialty contractors, and service providers. Comparable to LECET's industry advocacy and contractor network functions, though AGC represents a broader (union and non-union) contractor base.
• North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU): Umbrella organization representing 14 building and construction trade unions including LIUNA. Comparable as the parent federation that LECET Southwest operates under; sets policy and coordinates across affiliated labor-management cooperation trusts.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): National trade association representing merit shop (non-union) construction contractors. Comparable industry trade body to LECET's signatory contractor network, though ABC represents the open-shop segment rather than unionized contractors.
• ConstructConnect: Commercial construction project lead and preconstruction platform providing project data, bid management, and contractor directories. Comparable to LECET's MEP project tracking and contractor directory offerings, though ConstructConnect serves all contractors (not just union signatory).

Direct peers

• LECET Midwest: Regional LECET (Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust) operating in the Midwest under the same Taft-Hartley labor-management structure as LECET Southwest. Provides identical MEP-style project lead tracking, contractor directory, and training services to LIUNA signatory contractors in a different geography.
• CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training: Non-profit safety and health research center serving the construction industry, particularly union-affiliated contractors. Comparable to LECET's health & safety services and worker training programs, with similar union funding model and contractor support offerings.
• Helmets to Hardhats: Non-profit connecting military veterans with careers in the union building trades. Comparable to LECET's workforce development and apprenticeship pathways, with similar labor union affiliation and focus on construction craft labor recruitment.
• NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research): National non-profit providing standardized construction craft training, credentialing, and accreditation. Comparable to LECET's apprenticeship and training programs, though NCCER serves a broader craft base (electricians, plumbers, HVAC) while LECET focuses on laborers.

Emerging players

• Build Your Future (BYF): Construction industry workforce development initiative promoting career pathways in the skilled trades. Comparable to LECET's apprenticeship and training pipeline programs, with similar focus on construction labor recruitment and career development.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LECETsouthwest
• Facebookfacebook.com/LECETsouthwest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lecet-southwest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

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 LECET Southwest