Resource Guide : Where to Find Tips, Testing and Training at Little or No Cost

Apprenticeship Preparation Classes

Sponsored by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Services:

* Prepares trainees to meet apprenticeship entry requirements in a variety of trades, including surveying, sheet metal, plumbing/steam fitting, painting/drywall, electrical, sprinkler fitting, carpentry, refrigeration/air conditioning.

* Information on selection processes of various unions

* Instruction and review in math and reading skills

* Focus on minorities and women, but open to all qualified applicants

Eligibility:

* 18 years or older

* High-school graduate/GED certificate

* Valid California driver’s license

* Must be able to provide own transportation

Enrollment periods:

* Fall: August and September

* Spring: January and February

* Summer: May and June

Cost: $5 registration fee

Hours: Classes offered 8 a.m.-1 p.m. or 1-6 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

Address: Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center, 10925 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 249-1149

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Aware Advisory

Services: Vocational and educational counseling; not a placement service

Cost: $5 donation per visit (may be waived for the unemployed); $20 fee for Strong Interest Inventory testing (includes counseling)

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon. and Wed.

Address: Santa Monica YWCA, 2019 14th St., Santa Monica

Telephone: (310) 452-3833

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Brady JobNet

Serves primarily lower-income individuals and families in East Los Angeles and surrounding areas, but all persons are welcome.

Services:

* Three-day employment readiness seminar in English and Spanish

* Job-search mentoring

* Help with resumes

* Interview practice

* Placement and follow-ups

* Referrals to employers

* Job club

Cost: Free to participants and employers, except $3 charge for seminar materials

Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Thur.

Address: 717 S. Brady Ave., Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 722-4495

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Braille Institute

A nonprofit organization providing a wide variety of services to people who are legally blind, including over 200 classes in independent living skills.

Career services:

* Learning Center for active job-seekers with classes covering resume writing, interview skills and adaptive equipment

* Career development

* Job search and placement

* On-site job analysis before and after placement

* Subsidy program for adaptive equipment

* Annual employer seminar

Costs: Free to legally blind clients

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

Address: 741 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angles

Telephone: (213) 663-1111

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Business Ownership Service System

An entrepreneurial training program offered by Rancho Santiago College to laid-off or soon-to-be laid-off workers. The 10-week program provides technical assistance, business ownership skill training, marketing guidance and business plan creation.

Qualifications:

* Candidates must be laid-off workers

* High school graduates with a minimum of eighth-grade reading level

* Idea or concept for a small business

* Complete assessment testing

Cost: Free for qualified applicants

Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

Telephone: Call (714) 564-5207 for appointment and reservation.

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California Business Incubation Network

Nonprofit, statewide association of business incubator advocates fostering the development of new business in California. Business incubators provide small, entrepreneurial businesses with affordable space, shared support services and business development services, such as financing, marketing and management. Incubators nurture young businesses during the start-up period.

Services offered by CBIN:

* Information clearinghouse

* Technical assistance with development and operations

* Seminars, conferences and workshops

* Speakers bureau

Cost: Complimentary information packet; membership fees: $100 individual, $250 nonprofits and $500 corporate

Address: 350 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles

Telephone: Sheila Washington at (619) 237-0559; (800) 427-4710 (California only)

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Facility-based incubators in Southern California:

* Border Environmental Business Cluster, 477 Marina Parkway, Building 52, Chula Vista, (619) 498-4960

* Business Innovation Center, 3350 Market St., San Diego, (619) 685-2949

* Business and Industry Services Center, 901 E. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 564-5202

* CalStart, 3601 Empire Blvd., Burbank, (818) 565-5600

* CHARO Enterprise Innovation Center, 3951 E. Medford St., Los Angeles, (213) 269-0751

* EC2 Square Annenberg Incubator Project, 746 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 743-2344.

* Inland Empire Business Incubator, 155 S. Memorial Drive, Suite B, San Bernardino, (909) 382-0065

* Lancaster Economic Development Corp., 104 E. Avenue K-4, Suite A, Lancaster, (805) 945-2741

* Lynwood Entrepreneur Development Academy, 2555 Industry Way, Suite C and D, Lynwood, (213) 249-4980.

* Pasadena Enterprise Center, 1015 N. Lake Ave., Suite 100, Pasadena, (818) 398-9974

* RBTIC (Ridgecrest Business Technology Incubator Center), 139 N. Balsam St., Ridgecrest, (619) 384-1118

* San Diego Technology Incubator, San Diego City College, 1313 Twelfth Ave., San Diego, (619) 230-2081

* Thousand Oaks Environmental Business Cluster, 241 Lombard St., Suite 1, Thousand Oaks, (805) 446-6410

* Vermont Slauson Business Enterprise Center, 6109 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 694-0026

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California Conservation Corps

Hires young men and women to work for one year on a variety of environmental and community projects and to respond to emergencies such as forest fires, floods and earthquakes. Corps members learn job skills and gain work experience. Both residential and nonresidential positions are available.

Qualifications: Women and men between the ages of 18 and 23 who are California residents and not on probation or parole

Telephone: (800) 952-5627

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California Council for Veterans Affairs

Services:

* Employment assistance

* Job listings

* Computer matching of applicant qualifications to employer needs

* Educational resource library

* Women’s shelter (veterans and nonveterans eligible)

Eligibility: must be a veteran

Cost: Free

Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.-Fri.; counseling by appointment only, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Address: 8652 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 750-9967

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California Registry of Professional Counselors

Service: Referrals to career counselors

Cost: Referrals are free; variable fees for counseling

Address: 2555 E. Chapman Ave., Suite 201, Fullerton

Telephone: (714) 284-8857

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California Small Business Development Center

Counseling and training of small-business owners and prospective entrepreneurs. Hosted by Rancho Santiago College.

Services:

* In-depth, one-on-one consulting

* Business planning and management assistance

* Marketing and technical assistance

* Business education and training

* Assistance with expansion into the international marketplace

* Economic and business data

* Access to federal, state and local programs

Cost: Consultations are free and confidential; appointment required.

Locations in Southern California:

* Eastern Los Angeles County SBDC, Pomona, (909) 629-2247

* Export SBDC of Southern California, Los Angeles, (213) 892-1111

* El Monte/South El Monte Outreach Center, El Monte, (818) 459-4111

* Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce SBDC, La Jolla, (619) 453-9388

* Inland Empire SBDC, Riverside, (909) 781-2345

* Northern Los Angeles SBDC, Van Nuys, (818) 373-7092

* Orange County SBDC, Santa Ana, (714) 647-1172

* Southwestern College Small Business Development and International Trade Center, Chula Vista, (619) 482-6391

* Southwest Los Angeles County SBDC, Torrance, (310) 787-6466

* Westside SBDC, Santa Monica, (310) 398-8883

* Accelerate Technology SBDC, Irvine, (714) 509-2990

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Career Encores

Referral service for people 50 and older. Serves only Los Angeles County, networking with 50 other agencies countywide.

Services:

* Information on job training

* Job listings for employers and job-seekers

* Job search assistance

Job clubs:

* Burbank: 2100 Magnolia Blvd.

* Los Angeles: 3700 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200

Orientation at 10 a.m. Fridays. Call before visit.

Cost: Free to job-seekers and employers

Hot line hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

Telephone hot line for all sites: 1 (800) 833-6267 for job seekers and employers

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Goodwill Industries of Southern California

Not-for-profit organization helps people with barriers to employment (disabilities, social disadvantages) to reach vocational potentials. Clients may also include those with limited work skills, little or no work history, no permanent shelter, poor self-esteem and self-confidence, a history of substance abuse or incarceration.

Services:

* Work evaluation and work adjustment training

* Occupational skill training and placement, including on-the-job training. Skills training includes computer/clerical, truck and forklift, janitorial and food service.

* Job coaches

* Job club

* Career Evaluation Center offering specialized testing and vocational counseling for disabled and at-risk youth.

Eligibility: Applicants must meet certain requirements for some programs.

Costs: Free

Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

Address: 342 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles

Telephone: (213) 223-1211