The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) announced the launch of a groundbreaking workforce development program focused on creating career pathways in the transportation industry.

At an event in downtown Los Angeles last week, the agency introduced the new program, Workforce Initiative Now-LA (WIN-LA), to prime contractors, small businesses and other potential partners to encourage their participation in the new program that is designed to benefit the entire region.

Career pathways include construction, non-construction opportunities in operations/maintenance, administration and professional services. Unique to the program, WIN-LA will provide support for participants in areas such as life skills development, skill set enhancement and educational attainment services through a collaboration of program partners. It also will increase the resources needed for training and placement of hard-to-fill positions within Metro and the transportation industry.

Approximately 39% of Metro’s workforce will be eligible for retirement over the next three years with 69% of Metro employees currently over the age of 40. Succession planning is crucial to maintaining a viable agency and Metro needs a workforce to deliver its aggressive Measure M program over the next 40 years and beyond.

WIN-LA is designed to be a collaborative partnership between Metro and those institutions and organizations interested in helping job seekers, companies and local communities through demand-driven workforce services. The goal is to create career pathway opportunities in the transportation and construction industries.

“From employment training, assessment and placement to ongoing outreach, WIN-LA will give people the tools they need to build better lives and sustainable communities across Metro’s service area,” said Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington. “The program’s first priority is putting people to work. To that end, it will provide potential employees with skills training, placement assistance and resources to help them secure industry positions with competitive wages and career possibilities and to keep those positions throughout their careers.”

Measure M, a half-cent sales tax initiative approved by the voters in 2016, will provide $860 million annually to build 40 highway and transit projects throughout L.A. County over the next 40 years. It is expected to generate an additional 778,000 jobs.