Brian Mohan is the city manager for Moreno Valley. He can be reached at cmoffice@moval.org or (951) 413-3020.

For several years, Moreno Valley, one of the fastest-growing cities in the Inland Empire, faced a serious challenge: Employers were struggling to find the skilled workers they needed to grow their businesses. Meanwhile, residents seeking stable, well-paying careers didn’t always have clear pathways to training. Businesses were left with unfilled positions, while many workers were limited to low-wage jobs or long commutes outside the city.

To tackle this issue head-on, the city partnered with Moreno Valley College in 2021 to launch the MoVal Apprenticeship Hub. But the Hub is more than a workforce program: It is a comprehensive system that connects local employers to a pipeline of trained talent and provides residents with paid, hands-on apprenticeship opportunities that lead to long-term career growth.

Early results show that the Hub is bridging the gap between businesses and workers, strengthening the city’s economy, and creating new opportunities for residents.

“The MoVal Apprenticeship Hub is reshaping what it means to live, work, and do business in Moreno Valley,” said Moreno Valley Mayor Ulises Cabrera. “For residents, it offers a path to stable, rewarding careers close to home. For employers, it delivers access to the skilled workforce they need to thrive. And for the community, it means greater economic mobility, reduced commuting, and a stronger local economy.”

Closing the talent gap

Moreno Valley’s workforce includes over 106,000 people, yet only a quarter of residents have completed postsecondary education. Employers in the health care, logistics, construction, and manufacturing industries struggled to find qualified workers, with positions taking 36% longer to fill than in previous years. Recruitment costs climbed, turnover remained high, and productivity suffered.

Meanwhile, over 60% of residents left the county for work each day. Veterans, young people, and career changers often had no clear path to higher-paying jobs, even though businesses were desperate for talent.

So, the city asked an important question: What if the talent that employers needed was already here, waiting to be trained?

Enter apprenticeships. These “earn while you learn” programs combine classroom instruction with paid, hands-on training, while helping participants build meaningful careers from the very first day. The Hub goes even further by raising awareness, breaking barriers, and building connections across the community.

One of its flagship initiatives is the Inland Empire Apprenticeship Expo, held every year during National Apprenticeship Week. The Expo brings together high school students, veterans, and job seekers with trade unions, colleges, and employers in a dynamic, hands-on career fair environment. With live demonstrations, free transportation, and lunch, the event makes apprenticeships both accessible and exciting.

The Hub also reaches people through National Apprenticeship Week webinars, including sessions focused on business benefits and Women in the Trades, a standout program that highlights female leaders in male-dominated industries.

For those ready to take the next step, the program guides residents through the process of starting an apprenticeship at the city’s Business & Employment Resource Center. On the employer side, city staff meet with businesses — from small shops to major manufacturers to explain how apprenticeships work, what support is available, and how to tap into a steady stream of local talent.

Together, these efforts create an ecosystem — among the first in the region — where residents gain in-demand skills while businesses secure the workforce they need.

Transforming the community

Since its launch, the MoVal Apprenticeship Hub has supported over 3,300 job seekers and engaged 122 employers. The Inland Empire Apprenticeship Expo has grown dramatically, expanding from just over 400 students in its first year to more than 1,100 students and 200 veterans and job seekers only four years later.

Information sessions have also connected hundreds of residents directly with apprenticeship coordinators, while many local businesses have joined apprenticeship programs to fill critical workforce shortages. Partnerships have been central to this success, with the city collaborating with 82 high schools, the Loma Linda Veterans Affairs, and regional trade councils to reach thousands of individuals.

The city also leads by example: It trained fourteen apprentices from Moreno Valley College’s IT program and hired four full-time graduates into its own workforce.

“This initiative directly supports our goal of enhancing the quality of life for residents by retaining talented individuals within our community,” said Steve Hargis, the city’s strategic initiatives manager. “Moreover, this program has also provided the city with a consistent pipeline of qualified IT talent, significantly reducing the time and effort spent on recruiting for entry-level positions. Our apprentices have been able to positively contribute to our workload within just a few months of joining our teams.”

Equity has been another cornerstone of the Hub’s mission. Nationally, only 11% of registered apprentices are women and just 9% are veterans. By highlighting these gaps, conducting targeted outreach, and building direct pathways, the MoVal Apprenticeship Hub is working to ensure opportunities reflect the diversity of Moreno Valley’s community.

Every time a new business opens, or a health care clinic expands, or a veteran begins a new career in Moreno Valley, the impact of the MoVal Apprenticeship Hub is felt, seen, and heard. Quietly, but powerfully, it is transforming lives — one apprenticeship at a time.

The city of Moreno Valley received the 2025 Helen Putnam Award of Excellence in the Partners Award for Excellence in City-Business Relations category. For more information about the award program, visit calcities.org/helen-putnam-award-for-excellence.