Last month, UNITE-LA submitted public comment on "California's Unified Strategic Workforce Development Plan" (State Plan) for Program Years 2024-27. UNITE-LA called for prioritizing investments and policies in education and workforce development over the next four years, which advance economic mobility for California's students, working families and industries.

The State Plan signifies core partners' recognition of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), formalizing an agreement on a framework for developing public policy, prioritizing fiscal investment, and operating the state workforce and education system effectively. More specifically, UNITE-LA highlighted three key points:

• The state must emphasize and incentivize sector partnerships.
• The state must ensure dedicated funding for intermediaries, crucial partners in expanding work-based learning opportunities.
• The state must elevate strategies that specifically address the needs of opportunity youth.

UNITE-LA also signed two coalition letters uplifting similar priorities, organized by the CA EDGE Coalition and the California Immigrant Policy Center, to strengthen advocacy efforts. For more information, please reach out to Edgar Castillo, Senior Manager of Workforce Development Systems and Policy, at [email protected].