San Diego & Imperial Women's Business Center

On October 30, 2023, Jennifer Fritzel, Regional Outreach Coordinator, Engie Mota, San Diego District Office Director, Megan Gutierrez, San Diego District Office Assistant Director, and Lawrence White, Regional Outreach Technical Advisor, met with Katty Ibarra, Director, San Diego and Imperial Women's Business Center. Jennifer provided an overview of OFCCP and introduced the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry Mega Construction Project. Jennifer also shared the outreach efforts in Southern California around the Mega Project, to include identifying agencies who provide a host of supportive services to meet the needs of the construction industry's workforce. OFCCP also explained how the agency can provide worker's rights and compliance assistance training to employers, contractors, and workers who might be interested to learn more about workplace rights and how to best partner with federal government as a contractor. Katty expressed interested in the learning opportunities offered by OFCCP and will connect with the representatives after she consults with her folks. Katty introduced the role of the Women's Business Center and the three childcare training programs offered. Through these no-cost training opportunities, individuals can receive the necessary certifications to become and establish their own family home childcare facility. The Women's Business Center provides all of the necessary business training requirements, and trainings do not exceed more than eight weeks. The eight-week training program is more intensive and does require a $20 payment to enroll. In the past, there were several people registering for the program and not showing up. As a result, the business center would incur the cost. The cost to enroll now confirms serious participants who anticipate completing the program. The Women's Business Center works very closely with the San Diego Chicano Federation. The center's overall success is they assist 180 students per year in their program and has increased childcare availability up to 800 childcare slots for the county. In addition, the business center also partners with the YMCA. There is a caveat to business representatives working with the YMCA, and that is setting the wages and costs of care. If there's a partnership established with the YMCA, they set the wages and costs of care. The hours of business hours can be established by the licensed home daycare operator, which can be a huge benefit to the non-traditional hours of the construction workforce. While Katty, made it very clear she cannot connect OFCCP to her home childcare facilities due to privacy, she is willing to bring awareness of the Mega Construction Projects to her community to assist with increasing in-home childcare options for the San Diego and commuting areas. Katty is also interested in joining the EEO Committee when it convenes to assist with addressing the childcare issues that may arise of the Otay Mesa Mega Project.