Apprentice electricians will join Berkeley Lab’s Facilities Division thanks to a historic agreement with the Alameda County Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, sponsored by Local 595 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Northern California chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association.

The first portion of an allocated $115.8 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding has arrived at Berkeley Lab. With $70 million directed to nine construction projects, hiring is already underway and is expected to result in up to 700 jobs for local contractors and employees, as well as suppliers in California and around the nation.