April 30, 2025

SACRAMENTO, CA – In celebration of National Apprenticeship Day 2025, the Institute for Local Government (ILG) has published a “Statement in Recognition of National Apprenticeship Day: Recognizing the Exciting Opportunity for Registered Apprenticeships in the Local Government Workforce.”

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Directors of the Institute for Local Government proudly recognizes National Apprenticeship Day 2025 and affirms its support for the utilization of Registered Apprenticeships as a vital strategy to build a skilled, inclusive, and civic-minded workforce—enabling individuals, strengthening local government, and advancing equitable access to public sector careers across California and beyond;

Read the entire Statement here.

This Statement follows ILG’s November 2024 launch of the Bridge Public Sector Apprenticeships initiative: a core part of the organization’s work around Workforce Development & Civics Education. The Bridge initiative was developed to help local governments hire for positions that are in high demand and notoriously difficult to fill, while also expanding economic opportunity and career mobility for underserved and underrepresented populations.

About the Bridge Public Sector Apprenticeships initiative

ILG is an Intermediary for non-traditional registered apprenticeships for California local governments as well as an official “Apprenticeship Ambassador,” as designated by the U.S. Department of Labor. In this role, ILG will provide general technical assistance, support, and resources for jurisdictions. ILG is also developing a digital library of resources, tools, case studies, potential partners, and written templates that can support any California local government interested in developing non-traditional RAPs.

During the Bridge pilot implementation phase between September 2025 and September 2027, ILG will evaluate each pilot program with a focus on promising practices and lessons learned, and develop an adaptable framework that local governments throughout California can follow to address their workforce needs.

Bridge is open to cities, counties, and special districts (e.g. utility districts, recreation and park districts, water districts, etc.). Pilots will be accepted on a rolling basis until space is filled and goals are met. To express interest in becoming a Bridge pilot site, senior local government staff or elected officials should complete this interest form. After receiving the form, ILG will schedule consultations and information sessions with top candidates to discuss each jurisdiction’s workforce goals and needs, as well as any existing partnerships or projects.

If you have questions, please email apprenticeships@ca-ilg.org. You can also sign up to receive future email updates about the Bridge initiative.

Bridge is made possible through the support and partnership of: the Irvine Foundation, the Broad Foundation, the California Workforce Development Board, and the U.S. Department of Labor. There are also dozens of programmatic partners, including but not limited to: the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, NextGenPolicy, the Clover Agency, and BuildWithin.