U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer traveled to California's Central Valley last week to mark President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office and promote the administration's economic agenda. Her visit included meetings with local businesses and workers.
Secretary Chavez-DeRemer, a native of the region, joined Rep. Vince Fong for a series of events focused on workforce development and energy production. They visited Wawona Frozen Foods in Clovis for a roundtable discussion and toured a California Resources Corporation energy facility near Bakersfield.
The roundtable at Wawona Frozen Foods highlighted the "Good Jobs 4 the Central Valley" program, a workforce development initiative backed by a federal grant. The program works with various organizations to train and place individuals in high-demand sectors like manufacturing, transportation, logistics, and construction.
Program officials reported 600 graduates and 342 job placements during the first quarter of 2025 across Fresno, Madera, Tulare, and Kings counties. The goal is to achieve 2,500 placements by Fall 2027.
The secretary acknowledged her personal connection to the area, having grown up in Hanford and graduated from Fresno State. She noted her first job was packing peaches in the Valley.
Discussions also touched on the agricultural workforce and the need for labor, particularly during specific harvest periods. Secretary Chavez-DeRemer mentioned conversations about visa programs to help supplement labor needs for businesses without displacing American workers.
The visit to California Resources Corporation underscored the administration's focus on strengthening U.S. energy production. Officials provided an overview of operations and discussed future projects aimed at boosting energy independence.
Secretary Chavez-DeRemer stated her goal is to understand community needs and translate those insights to Washington.
“Hearing this is music to my ears, about all the things that happen on the ground and in the community, and then taking that to Congress and then up to the presidential cabinet,” Secretary Chavez-DeRemer said. “That’s why he wants us on the ground.”
